Bahá’í World/Volume 24/The Bahá’í Faith in the Eyes of the World

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[Page 171]

This article highlights print media

coverage offhe Bahá’í Faith during 1995—96.

The Bahá’í Faith in the

EYES

OF THE

WORLD

I n surveying the attention afforded Bahá’í communities and events by the media this year, the steadily increasing tempo and diversity of such coverage becomes instantly apparent. Not only are more Bahá’í institutions formalizing mechanisms for offering material to the press, but to an increasing degree media agencies in every part of the world are finding Bahá’í initiatives and approaches to social issues newsworthy and are reporting on their developments, in English and in a wide variety of other languages. The following survey touches on some of the highlights, as well as those activities which received the most coverage.

The Bahá’ís of Iran

A number of articles on the plight of the Bahá’ís of Iran were published during the Visits of Olya Roohizadegan to Austria, Belgium, and the United States. Mrs. Roohizadegan was imprisoned by the Iranian authorities for being a Bahá’í; her book, Olya ’5 Story, details her experiences and those of her fellow Bahá’í prisoners. Among other articles on the Bahá’ís of Iran were those printed in Bergens T idende in Norway on 21 February 1996; in

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Mid—Day in South Africa on 25 April 1995; in three newspapers in India on 2 March 1996; in four New Zealand newspapers in February and March 1996; and in the Iran T imes in the United States on 16 and 23 February. The special exhibit on the response of the United States government to the persecution of the Bahá’ís of Iran, demonstrating its commitment to religious freedom, was announced in Roll-Call, the Capitol H111 newspaper, on 1 May 1995, and in the Washington Post on 6 May 1995.

Several articles were written for Irish newspapers reporting Bahá’í activities commemorating the tenth anniversary of the admission of 26 Iranian Bahá’ís as refugees by the government of Ireland. On 21 March 1996, the Donegal Democrat carried an item on a reception held at the Bahá’í National Center for the men and women of Ireland who aided the Iranian refugees, and Derry People and Donegal News printed a similar item on 22 March. On 6 April, the Meath Chronicle covered one Iranian Bahá’í man’s Visit with the Bahá’í couple in Slane who had helped him integrate into Irish life years before. The Sligo Champion on 28 February announced a segment of the Would You Believe program focusing on a Bahá’í couple’s journey from persecution in Iran to becoming a real part of the Sligo community.

Bahá’í Community Life A great deal of attention was accorded to Bahá’í holy days by the press worldwide. In American Samoa the Samoa Journal and Advertiser ran a piece on 23 October 1995 on the birthday of the Bab; in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, both the Daily T elegrams and the Andaman Herald on 19 October 1995 carried front—page announcements of celebrations of the birth of the Bab. On 11 November the Daily T elegrams printed a front-page item on the observance for the birth of Baha’u’llah, and on 12 November the Andaman Herald published a longer piece providing some details of Bahá’u’lláh’s life. In the United States an announcement in the Dallas Morning News of the observance of the Declaration of the B211) was printed on 13 May; in the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom, the Bahá’í community advertised the observance of the Martyrdom of the Bab in the Shetland Times. The Shetland Times also carried an announcement about the birthday of Baha’u’llah, on 10 November 1995.

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In New Zealand as well two articles were printed about the birthday of Baha’u’llah and the Bahá’í community published announcements about the Bahá’í fast and about the Riḍván Festival. The Azores newspaper Correio dos Agores printed on 23 April 1995 a description by the 850 Miguel Bahá’í community of the history and significance of Riḍván. The article included a photograph of the Riḍván Garden in the Holy Land. Newspapers all over India reported on local communities’ Observances of Bahá’í holy days. The Bahá’í celebration of NawRuZ—New Year—resulted in an article in the Washington Post on 18 March 1995, as well as in newspapers in New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Hawaii, the U.S.A., and Guyana.

The Marianas Observer, the Pacific Star, and the Pacific Daily News in the Mariana Islands all published stories covering that community’s Eighteenth National Bahá’í Convention. 1n Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, on 2 June 1995 the Vincentz’an printed a photograph of the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly. The participation of a Manitoban Bahá’í in the National Convention of Canada was reported on 10 May in the Opasquz'a Times. The article also included information about the Bahá’í electoral process and historical facts about the Bahá’í administration in Canada. On 19 May, the Marshall Islands Journal reported on the national convention in that country. The same journal on 23 June carried a story on the Visit to Majuro of three members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Australasia. On 12 May, the Shetland T imes reported that a member of the Shetland Bahá’í community would serve on the new committee appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom to direct the affairs of the Bahá’í community in Scotland.

The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle’s 25 to 31 August 1995 issue reported on the first national Bahá’í conference and included the Bahá’í Faith among its list of religious organizations and institutions. More than 25 different articles appeared in an array of New Zealand newspapers announcing or reporting on the Pacific Horizons Conference, held in Auckland in J anuary 1996 and sponsored by the Bahá’í community. At least twelve other articles were printed which followed the efforts of Bahá’ís who came to

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New Zealand to attend the conference to share their cultures, talents, and the Bahá’í message with the people of various areas of New Zealand. The Pioneer and the Times oflndia on 15 December 1995 both published articles in English on the establishment of the Chair for Bahá’í Studies at Lucknow University, and articles on the subj ect were carried by two Hindi newspapers.

Advancement of Women

111 Macau, an activity in support of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, in April 1995, in which children expressed their world citizenship by putting their handprints on a banner which was subsequently sent to the conference, received coverage from a number of Macau newspapers, including Huaqiao Baa, Huaao Ribao, Daizhong Bao, Aomen Wenyu, Aomen Ribao, Zheng Baa, Xiandai Aomen Ribao, and Hauao Ribao. The press in Malaysia printed several reports mentioning 0r highlighting Malaysian Bahá’í women’s involvement in the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. In addition, there were about seven articles reporting on a post-Beijing seminar sponsored by the Bahá’í community in November 1995. The Guyana Chronicle and the Stabroek News printed items on 16 August on the departure of two Guyanese Bahá’ís for the NGO forum at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and then on 16 and 19 October the Guyana Chronicle reported on the post—Beijing symposium organized by the Bahá’í community and Opened by Prime Minister Sam Hinds. In Hawaii, the Sun Press and the Honolulu Star—Bulletin also carried items on local Bahá’í women who traveled to the Beijing conference. On 6 November the Trinidad Guardian reported on the post—Beijing conference on women hosted by the Bahá’í community and attended by the First Lady of Trinidad and Tobago. 1n Ontario, Canada, the London Free Press published an article which stated that the Bahá’í ‘ Faith “recognizes that women have untapped resources to offer the world.” Articles were printed in the Sunday Vanguard of Nigeria on 12 November and 17 December written by a Bahá’í and commenting on the equality of women and men and the importance of proper parenting. 1n Swaziland, an article describing a panel discussion on the equality of men and women

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to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations, organized by the UN system in that country, the National Assembly, and the Ministry of Education, was published on 12 October in the Times ofSwaziland.

Action on Social Issues

The Honolulu Advertiser on 14 October 1995 reported the Honolulu Bahá’í community’s celebration for United Nations Day, and the Sun Press issue for 28 December 1995 to 3 J anuary 1996 announced the community forum“Hea1ing of Our Ohana,” organized by the Bahá’ís Of Wahiawa, Hawaii. Several American newspapers noted Bahá’í involvement in UN 50 activities in the United States, including the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, and the Washington Post. The New Paper of Singapore reported on 12 August 1995 on 13—year—old Bahá’í J ordan Melic’s presentation of A World in Our Hands to UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros—Ghali as part of activities to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations. On 20 October, the Bahá’ís of the Solomon Islands published an article in the Solomon Star on UN 50.

On 31 January 1996 the Barbados Advocate published a photograph and a brief description of members of the Barbadian Bahá’í community presenting Turning Point for All Nations to that newspaper’s editor. The Derry Journal in Northern Ireland ran a commentary on 14 November on T urning Paintfor All Nations, describing the portion dealing with the role of women as “a very worthwhile contribution to that issue.” The writer then quoted and summarized that section of the document, ending by asking, “Is there much in the foregoing with which the maj ority of people in our culture could seriously disagree?”

Liberecky’ Den, a Czech newspaper, printed a report on 17 August 1995 describing a program observing the Year of Tolerance, organized by the Bahá’ís Of Liberee. More than twelve articles were published in New Zealand newspapers, reporting on Bahá’í efforts to highlight issues of unity in diversity, tolerance, and racial harmony. On 26 June 1995, the Border Mail in Australia reported on the Bahá’í community of Albury-Wodonga’s multicultural event in honor of Refugees

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Week. The Bahá’í community of Altenkirchen, Germany, he1d a feast focusing on international understanding that spurred articles in Rhein-Zeitung on 18 May and 24/25 May 1995, as well as in Mitteilungsblatz‘fiir den Bereich der Verbandsgemeinde AZten/circhen on 1 June 1995. An account was published on 10 December in Athens News in Greece of the Bahá’í community’s reception in celebration of United Nations Human Rights Day. The Bahá’ís of the Gambia printed statements on the United Nations and human rights in the Point on 29 May and the Gambia Daily on 19 June, respectively.

The Cook Islands News for 14 Ju1y published an announcement and description of a Bahá’í presentation on the theme of the prosperity of humankind. The Guyana Chronicle published articles on 10 and 19 May and the Stabroek News printed one on 19 May covering the Bahá’í—sponsored symposium “Unity in Diversity in the Quest for Global Prosperity,” which was attended by President Cheddi J agan. Once again on 29 March and 3 April 1996, the Stabroek News and the Guyana Chronicle, respectively, carried items about the Bahá’í community of Georgetown’s panel discussion on eradicating poverty. On 5 July, a piece was printed in the Gambia Daily announcing the conference on “The Prosperity of Humankind” being organized by the Bahá’í community. An article was published on 3 July in the Daily Observer in Gambia, announcing the impending V181t to that country from Ethiopia of Gi1a Michael Bahta, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa, who spoke at the Gambia’s “Post-World Summit on Social Development Conference.” Another article was published by that newspaper on 11 July reporting on Mr. Bahta’s Visit. The Sunday Vision in Uganda on 23 April carried an article on the response of the Ugandan Bahá’í community to the United Nations World Summit for Social Development.

The Bahá’í community of Mauritius submitted a number of statements to Le Mauricien throughout the year, some in English and some in French, dealing with such topics as World Religion Day, religious intolerance, drug abuse, and world peace. In Kyrgyzstan, the Bahá’í community published an extensive article

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on world peace in the 25 to 31 October issue of the Kyrgyzstan Chronicle.

The Marshall Islands Journal printed a report on 12 May 1995 on the progress achieved in the Marshall Islands School Improvement Proj eet for the seven public elementary schools in Majuro, Which is being managed by Bahá’ís. On 26 May, the Saipan T ribune in the Mariana Islands reported on the luncheon he1d by the Bahá’í community during Which suggestions were offered to delegates of the Third Constitutional Convention. The Solomon Star on 27 September published a photograph of the recipients of the Blums Community Service Award, Which is presented by the Bahá’í community of the So1omon1s1ands.

On 11 April 1996, Bray People announced a public address by a1eading family and teenage counselor on “The Challenge of Family Life and Education in the Nineties,” sponsored by the Bahá’ís of County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Vincentian printed articles on 26 May and 2 June regarding a series of workshops on family development Which covered such topics as Violence—free families, communication in families, and the deve1opment of morality in children.

Over fifteen newspapers throughout India reported on the travels of John Huddleston, a Bahá’í Who spoke about the status of women, the importance of religion in society, economics, and globalization, among other topics. Several newspapers also have highlighted the contributions Bahá’ís have been making to the discussion on communal harmony, While about seven articles were published delineating Bahá’í teachings on the equality of women and men.

In the issue of the Malawi News for 5 to 11 August, it was reported that a delegation of representatives of the Malawian Bahá’í community called on the President of that country, Who encouraged the Bahá’ís to assist the government With primary education and health care. In the Gambia on 4 J anuary 1996, the Point printed a report on the Visit of Abbas Bashir Elahi, a Bahá’í physician from the United States Who Visited the mayor, a hospital, and a school of nursing and donated medical supplies

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during his stay. On 7 March 1996, the Tonga Chronicle reported on the Ocean of Light International Primary School, which is administered by the Bahá’í community. The news article was accompanied by a large photograph of some of the children in one of the classes. The Bahá’ís in Malaysia organized a blooddrive to encourage non—Muslims to donate blood during the Muslim month of fasting, in order to offset a predicted shortage. The initiative was reported in February 1996 by the Borneo Post and the Daily Express in English, as well as the See Hua Daily News, the Overseas Chinese Daily News, and the Asia T imes in Chinese. The Examiner published on 27 November 1995 a large photograph of a group of Bahá’í young women dressed in various national costumes as part of its coverage of the community—service—based Martha Root Proj ect in Launceton, Australia.

In June 1995, the Slovak newspaper Sme printed the Bahá’í International Community’s report that earth from that country was deposited into the Peace Monument in Rio de J aneiro, Brazil. The Straits T imes in Singapore on 22 April 1995 reported on an intemationa1 Children’s art exhibition organized by the Bahá’í community in honor of Earth Day. “Animals and Me,” another international children’s art exhibition which was sponsored by the Extended Education Center of the Education Department and the Spiritual Assembly of Macau, was the subject of an article in the Macau newspaper Aomen Ribao on 28 January 1996. On 23 July 1995, Shimin Ribao reported on children’s activities for environmental protection in Macau, organized by the Bahá’í youth group. The international children’s art exhibition held in Taiwan resulted in at least four articles in the China Post as well as about five articles in Chinese newspapers. An article was submitted by the Bahá’í community of Yekaterinburg, Russia, to Klyuch Zemli detailing Bahá’í teachings on the environment.

Sharing the Message of Bahá’u’lláh On 21 September 1995, the Bahá’í youth workshop in Vienna, Austria, received newspaper coverage of its open—air theater presentation of Bahá’í principles. An announcement was printed in the Marshall Islands Journal of the Bahá’í youth summer

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school which was held in Rita from 19 to 30 June. Eight different articles were published in various newspapers in Norway about the performances of the Bahá’í Youth Theater, which took to the streets to raise awareness about racism, religion, and the value of unity in diversity.

On 11 June 1995, Austrian Television (ORF) broadcast a twenty-minute film about the Bahá’í Faith as part of its regular religious program Orientierung. In Liberia, the Bahá’ís had a brief history of Baha’u’llah’s life published in the F irst National Poll for 25 November to 2 December. An article on the Bahá’í Faith was submitted by the Bahá’í community of Yekaterinburg, Russia, to Bratstvo Ver. At least seven newspapers in Norway printed articles introducing the general public to the beliefs and principles of the Bahá’í Faith. In the United States, a number of newspapers printed such articles, including the Chicago SunT imes, the Dallas Morning Star, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Articles were printed on Bahá’í book exhibitions in India in Janamukha on 29 September, in Agnishikha on 29 September, in Sambalashree on 2 October, and in the Sentinel on 19 October. A 21 October 1995 advertisement in the Times newspaper in Malta announced the Eleventh Malta Book Fair, mentioning the Bahá’í Publishing Trusts among the participants.

On 15 Ju1y 1995 and 30 March 1996, the Waikato Times in New Zealand published articles on the trips of Shane Te Ruki, a Maori Bahá’í, to various Native American communities in Canada for the purpose of sharing his beliefs and his culture.

Eastern European press reports have taken note of the incursion of religious groups into the various countries of the formerly Communist area. The New Reporter in Albania on 1 December 1995 cited the Bahá’í Faith as one group which has grown significantly since 1989.

The Bahá’ís of Sri Lanka maintained a steady stream of announcements of community events in newspapers, as well as the “Thought for the Day” published regularly in the cover of the Daily News, featuring quotations from the Bahá’í writings. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahá’í community also sponsored regular articles in the Trinidad Guardian, covering such topics as

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unity in diversity, the purpose of creation, and world peace. Likewise, the Bahá’í community of Swaziland published articles in the Yebo Weekend Observer Magazine on life after death, religion as the source of morality, family, youth, and preserving marriages. 1n the Pas, Manitoba, Canada, the Bahá’í community submitted regular pieces to the Opasquia T imes on a variety of subj ects, ine1uding the destiny of native peoples as portrayed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, sustainable development, and the environment.

Interfaith Activities

On 23 March 1996, the Washington Post reported on an interreligious conference held at Howard University, including the Bahá’í contributions to the event. The Dallas Morning News noted on 29 April 1995 the participation of the Bahá’ís of Dallas in the National Day of Prayer.

The Drogheda Independent’s special supplement on the celebration of the 700—year anniversary of the ministry of the Augustinians in Drogheda, Ireland, reported the presence of a representative of the Bahá’í Faith and of a Bahá’í reading during the service, Which was attended by President Mary Robinson. The Limerick Leader on 29 J anuary 1996 reported the observance by the local Bahá’í community of World Religion Day through the distribution to all schools in the Limerick area of an information packet on the religions of the world.

Several newspapers in Singapore provided coverage of the events associated With the Bahá’í—organized observance of World Religion Day in J anuary 1996. T amil Murasu published two articles in the Tamil language; the Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zhaobao printed two reports; and the Straits Times carried four articles in English.

The Efforts of Individual Bahá’ís

The efforts, achievements, and experiences of individual Bahá’ís caught the attention of media representatives in many places this year. An exhibition on the life of August Forelwa Bahá’í doctor, entomologist, and social reformer—held in Bulgaria was reported in the issue of Balkanite Dnes for 14 to 20 July 1995.

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An extensive, two-part profile of Robert Abbott—a Bahá’í and the founder of the Chicago Defender—was printed in the 11 to 15 November and 18 to 22 November issues of the T ri-State Defender. 1n Miinster, Germany, on 21 September 1995, Westfc'ilische Nachrichten reported an exhibition of the art work of Mark Tobey, citing the Bahá’í Faith as the inspiration for his work. The Kauai Times in Hawaii ran a front—page story on 4 June on Leonard Herbert, a Bahá’í artist, and announced an exhibition of his work. The Canadian magazine Eye on 3 August profiled two Bahá’í members of the band “Project 9,” featuring them on the cover and including positive references to their statements about the Bahá’í Faith. The March 1996 issue of exclaim! featured a photograph on its cover of the band “Plains of F ascination,” and printed a page-long article on the artistic Vision and be1iefs Of the members, several of whom are Bahá’ís.

In Australia, the North West Telegraph on 30 August 1995 carried an interview with Sharghieh Moshirian, a Bahá’í from Iran who experienced imprisonment and torture at the hands of the government, which was trying to induce her to recant her faith. The Sunday Guardian in Trinidad on 6 August 1995 published a profile of Hamid Farabi, detailing the persecution he endured as a Bahá’í in Iran and how he has succeeded in spite of it.

The retirement of Wilma Ellis from her position as Administrator General of the Bahá’í International Community’s Offices in New York and Geiieva resulted in three newspaper articles in Bermuda: the Bermuda Sun 011 26 J anuary 1996; the Bermuda T imes on 26 January; and the Royal Gazette on 27 J anuary. Bermuda is one of the countries Dr. Ellis works with in her service as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas.

An architect of Persian background who was born in Malaysia spoke at a forum held in Malaysia on the Bahá’í House of Worship in India, for which he was the resident Chief engineer. Malaysia’s Daily Express ran a profile on him on 14 March 1996, while Yazhou Shibao, the Overseas Chinese Daily, and Shihua Ribao all reported on the forum.

The Guardian in Tanzania on 20 and 27 J anuary 1996 printed extensive features on Bahá’í families there, including several

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large photographs with each article. Some nine articles were published in Norwegian newspapers profiling Bahá’ís in various parts of the country, describing their beliefs and way of life, and reporting personal events.

On 8 March 1996, the Solomon Star carried a photograph and short article on two Solomon Islands youth who were living in Israel, serving at the Bahá’í World Centre. In Papua New Guinea four articles were published in January 1996, three in English and one in Pidgin, on the return of a Papua New Guinean Bahá’í youth from her term of service at the World Centre. The Augusta Chronicle, 21 newspaper in Georgia, United States, printed an article with a1arge photograph, about a Bahá’í youth’s plans to postpone college for a year in order to offer a year of service to the Bahá’í Faith. '

An obituary on Salvatore “Tony” Pe11e was printed in the Honolulu Advertiser on 30 August 1995, following his passing. Various articles were written in Samoa on the passing of Suhayl AIa’i, a Bahá’í of American Samoa who died while on a Visit to Western Samoa. The Samoa News carried a report of his death on 18 August and ten days later reported on the post—funeraI memorial service in American Samoa. The Samoa Journal and Advertiser published a photograph of the funeral, and the Samoa Observer printed a lengthy memorial on Mr. Ala’i. In addition, Mr. Ala’i’s employees published a full-page appreciation in his honor in Samoa News.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, the T urks and Caicos News and the F ree Press reported the 1 February 1996 death of Bahá’í physician Francis Gilbert. Various newspapers in Uganda followed the unfolding story of the murder of Rodney Belcher, a well—respected Bahá’í physician (see pp. 309—11). Additionally, the Washington T imes, a U.S. newspaper, carried the story of his death on 12 March 1996.

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