Blogger: Baha’i Faith in Egypt
Article: Egypt’s Baha’is Mentioned in the British Parliament
Originaly Posted On: 2008-01-27 19:08:00

Photo by Deryc Sands © Parliamentary copyright images are reproduced with the permission of Parliament

Barney Leith posted in his blog “Barnabas quotidianus” on a recent significant debate in the British Parliament. The case of the Egyptian Baha’is was brought-up in relation to the Foreign Affairs Committee’s Eighth report of 2006-07 Parliamentary session on global security in the middle east. During the session of 25 January 2008, Bob Spink MP of Castle Point said the following:

Again, I congratulate the Committee on this excellent report on a difficult matter.

I shall speak on a narrow subject. In chapter 5 of the report, on Egypt, I note that the part entitled “Human Rights and Democratisation” does not address a certain issue. I understand the Committee’s difficulty in visiting every point on human rights, but minority rights in Egypt are important, and I wish to flag them up.

The inception of a new system of computerised ID cards in Egypt compelled its citizens to identify themselves as members of one of three constitutionally recognised religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Members of Egypt’s Baha’i minority have been unable to register as citizens of their own country. On 16 December 2006, the Supreme Administrative Court upheld the Government’s position that forces Baha’is either to falsely claim to be a member of a religion or go without an ID card. Egyptian Baha’is are therefore unable to register the birth of their children, denying those children access to education, jobs and medical treatment. They are effectively unable to live as citizens in the country of their birth. That is a minority issue, and it is understandable why it is not covered in the report. Other religious groups in Egypt, including the Copts, who have changed their religion, have also faced a problem in getting ID cards.

Denying fundamental freedoms to Egyptian citizens on that basis appears to be a breach of Egypt’s obligations under article 18 of the international covenant on civil and political rights, as was asserted in a recent report by Human Rights Watch and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. It would be useful for future reports of the Foreign Affairs Committee to examine minority rights, if possible.

To read the rest of the debate, please visit Barney’s blog at this link….

Blogger: Point of no return
Article: Congress of Jews of Egypt proceedings published
Originaly Posted On: 2008-01-27 21:26:00

The proceedings of the World Congress of the Jews of Egypt held in Haifa in July 2006 have now been published. The result is a unique book, titled History and culture of the Jews of Egypt in Modern Times. The book contains articles by 30 world-famous academic researchers, including the works of the three editors, Ada Aharoni, Aimee Pelletier and Levana Zamir.

This book describes the Golden Era history of the Jews of Egypt during the 19th and 20th centuries and contains sociological articles about their multiculturalism, culture, religion, women’s status, and how they spent their leisure. It also tells how they became refugees, and how they were absorbed and rehabilitated in different countries. The book deals too with the need to accept ‘The Other’ and looks at the Mediterranean Option - how the merging of Western and Oriental cultures in the region, as in liberal Egypt until 1952, could foster peace and benefit all the countries in the Middle East.

The 554- page book is in English, French and Hebrew and contains beautiful historical pictures of a model multicultural society that is no more.

To order the book price $50/ 35 Euros/ £25 (registered post and packing included) please
send cheque directly to the Publisher: Keness Hafakot, P.O.B. 18260, Tel-Aviv 61182 - Israel. Enquiries to: levanazamir@gmail.com

Blogger: jerusalem wanderings
Article: IPCRI (Palestinian/Israeli) retreat in Jerusalem
Originaly Posted On: 2008-01-09 21:54:00

IPCRI (Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information) had a retreat this past weekend at the beautiful Tantur Center in Gilo near the Bethlehem border. Now sometimes these retreats can be quite stressful for me and other times they are most enjoyable.

There were about 200 Israelis and Palestinians who participated in the many workshops over Friday and Saturday. It always astounds me that even after 6 years of being involved in peace activities, I’m still meeting new people and making new connections. When you think you just about know everyone in the field, you realize there’s still a lot more out there. Which makes me happy of course, believing that these grassroots movements are growing like weeds.

I checked into a lovely room with a terrace that morning and after lunch went back to my room to put away some of the brochures I collected. I noticed another backpack on the other bed and wondered who my roommate was. But what I did notice was that this person didn’t have any toiletries or perhaps didn’t get around to unpacking them. That’s unusual for a woman, isn’t it? The jacket on the bed was black with a satin stripe and I wondered whether I did indeed have a female roommate.

I ran down to the front desk.

“Who is my roommate?”

“We don’t have any names, you’ll have to check with the organizers”

It wasn’t until dinner time that one of the organizers came over to me and said she had made a mistake and had put a man in my room. Great! Just what my husband would want while he is in Canada. And I wondered who the lucky guy was! But I didn’t stick around to find out, and hurriedly got my things and checked into another room. I thought how funny it would have been had I not questioned anything and went to sleep and then I’d see this guy come into the room.

The next day people were like “well, how did you sleep.”

“Very well, thank you, since I didn’t have a GUY in my room.”

Other than that faux pas, the retreat was very well organized with a choice of 3 different workshops at any given time. I gave a workshop at the very beginning with my friend Rahel from Reiki for Peace on “How to Move from Extremism to Tolerance” citing my days as a follower of Rabbi Meir Kahane and how these Israeli/Palestinian encounters” made such a difference and changed my life entirely.

There were quite a large number of young Palestinians in our workshop, from the Hebron area and some from Bethlehem and Nablus. I guess they have their hardships with neighborhing Jewish extremists and were interested to hear my story.

There were some very powerful young people at the retreat that I had a strong feeling of a new world order about to emerge from this. I know that’s a very powerful statement, but it really felt “as if”.

The fact that I live in Maaleh Adumim raised some eyebrows but the participants here weren’t as aggravated about this fact as they are at other times, and listened to my views. A Fatah guy from Bethlehem was terribly excited when he heard where I come from and shouted “That’s IT! We have to start talking to settlers!.” Even though I don’t feel like a settler at all, I guess I’ll always be one to the Palestinians. I often wonder if they consider those who live in post-1967 Jerusalem neighborhoods like French Hill, Talpiot Mizrach, Gilo and Ramot as settlers too. Mr. “Fatah” and I exchanged numbers and I hope it won’t be too hard for him to get a permit to come into Jerusalem for more interfaith gatherings. But one of the Palestinians told me he knows of two Palestinian families who live in Maaleh Adumim, which I was thrilled to hear about - one is a journalist and the other, I have no idea. And I wondered if their neighbors know and if these families are having an easy time of it or not.

We were entertained Friday evening by Musicians for Peace who were better than I’ve ever heard them in their four years together, and they sang Shlomo Carlebach’s classic “Because of My Brothers and Friends” in Hebrew, English and Arabic while we linked arms and swayed back and forth together as one family.

One of the more popular workshops there was how to influence policy makers. There wasn’t enough time for everyone’s questions and there was just so much to talk about that we could have gone on for hours about this.

And while I was going to workshop after workshop, it seemed that my own goals became clearer, and I was quite happy and confident in knowing that I have a very big goal in mind - which is combating racism in my neighborhood. Not an easy task and certainly this is not a task for one person. But I thought of adding monthly encounters at my home when things are a little less hectic in my life and getting others involved. I’m sure we could have quite a nice group going in my part of town and took down numbers of people who asked to do worskhops in my area - interfaith yoga workshops, compassionate listening, reiki, etc. etc.

But whether I can get a local group going from my home or not, or whether these grass roots movements will grow into tens of thousands of people or not didn’t matter in the end. What did matter was the fact that whenever I do attend these gatherings, my heart is filled with so much hope and joy, that it just spills over to everyone I come into contact with, and I wonder if they notice how happy I am. My son certainly felt it and spent the day cleaning up so I came home to a spotless home. Now that is certainly worth something, isn’t it?

Blogger: Chaldean Thoughts
Article: Epiphany of The Lord In Iraq
Originaly Posted On: 2008-01-08 21:02:00

Bless our house, dear Lord.
Bless every person who lives here.
Bless every person who enters our door.

Help us to welcome each one as though we were welcoming you.

We recall how the Holy Family received the three kings that day so long ago.

You example shows us that all are welcome in your heart and all are to be welcomed to our households.

Help us to make our home a place of peace.
Remind

Blogger: Baha’i Faith in Egypt
Article: Egypt and ID Cards: Exclusion by Classification!
Originaly Posted On: 2008-01-15 20:10:00

In its most recent edition, the Cairo weekly “Watany” newspaper published a comprehensive article on the current status of the Baha’is of Egypt. The article is titled “Bahai’s: a case of civic death.”

Watany newspaper describes itself as follows: “Watani is an Egyptian weekly Sunday newspaper published in Cairo. The word Watani is Arabic for “My Homeland”. The paper was founded in 1958 by the prominent Copt Antoun Sidhom (1915 – 1995), who strove for the establishment of a civil, democratic society in Egypt, where all Egyptians would enjoy full citizenship rights regardless of their religious denomination. This remains Watani’s objective to this day, leaning neither left nor right on the political level, but following its own clear course in the press field. Those in charge of Watani view this role as a patriotic all-Egyptian vocation, especially following the increasing marginalisation of the Coptic role, issues and culture within the Egyptian society over the past half century. Watani is deeply dedicated to offer its readers high quality, extensive, credible press coverage, with special focus on Coptic issues, culture, heritage, and contribution to Egyptian society.”

The article in its entirety is posted below:

Bahai’s: a case of civic death
Nasser Sobhy

Late last month the Cairo administrative court postponed, for the fifth time since 2004, ruling in the case of the Baha’is, who require their religion to be cited in their ID documents. Their case against the Interior Ministry was adjourned to 22 January. The ministry refuses to cite Baha’i as a religion in ID documents on grounds that the Egyptian Constitution acknowledges only three religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Baha’is are thus required either to be officially cited as members of one of these three faiths, or to be left out in the cold with no ID documents and no rights or duties as Egyptian citizens.

The only option
Since 2004, Baha’is have undergone a serious crisis that threatens their very existence in Egypt. Even if they have IDs and birth certificates proving their belonging to the Baha’i religion, and even if their parents are or were Baha’is, they cannot be officially recognised in Egypt as Baha’is. Prior to the 2004 decision Baha’is had every right to be officially registered as such or, if they chose to, to leave the religion box in their ID documents vacant. The only option thus left to Baha’is was to take their case to court. In April 2006 the administrative court ruled that they had the right to cite their religion in formal papers, but the State appealed the ruling and the Supreme Administrative Court ruled in its favour. The State is thus not obliged to cite Baha’i as a religion in formal papers. Noteworthy is that this ruling contradicts a previous one on the same question issued in 1983.

No education, no life
Meanwhile, the Baha’i Raouf Hindi filed a lawsuit demanding the right to birth certificates for his twin children, Emad and Nancy, citing their religion as Baha’i. The twins were born in a Gulf country and were registered as Bahai’s, but when they came back to Egypt, the Civil Registration Office refused to issue birth certificates proving their religion. To date the court has not had its say on the issue. Another case before the court was filed by the Baha’i university student Hussein Hosni Bekheit Abdel-Messih who was dismissed from college for failing to hand in, among his application documents, a computerised ID and a military service certificate. The Administrative Court issued a ruling obliging the Ministry of Defence to hand him a certificate and the Ministry of Education to allow him to attend the final exam, but the State appealed and a ruling has yet to be issued. As for infants, if their parents do not register them as Muslim, Christian, or Jew, they can possess no birth certificate, meaning they have to go without the mandatory vaccination required and provided by the Health Ministry and, later in their lives, cannot be enrolled in school. They continue to live with no formal identity, leading to dire results. Males who reach the age of 16 could be sentenced to prison for evading the military service they can only perform if they possess Egyptian ID documents. And Baha’is can have no death certificates; their families cannot collect pensions. The only document they can have is the passport, since it contains no religion box.

Killing identities
Last November Human Rights Watch (HRW) in conjunction with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) issued a report on “Prohibited Identities: State Interference with Religious Freedoms” in which it tackled, among other issues, the question of Baha’i identity. Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa division of HRW met Ahmed Amr, senior assistant of the Minister of Interior. The latter defended the ministry’s policies and asserted that the insertion of the Baha’i faith in official papers would lead to a disruption of public order. Mr Stork aptly commented that officials in the Egyptian Ministry of Interior believed that they held the right to choose the religion for citizens. “Such intransigent policies are aimed at killing people’s identities, and consequently serve to persecute individuals,” he said. The EIPR indicates that the Egyptian government uses Islamic sharia or legal code to justify banning people from enjoying the rights they are entitled to by the Egyptian law and international conventions. EIPR manager Hussam Bahgat, explained that sharia had no conclusive position vis-à-vis administrative issues such as the religion box in the formal papers of modern States. “Removal of the religion cell from formal papers would be a proof of the State’s neutrality with respect to people’s religious commitment, he said; the core of the problem lies with the State’s persistence in registering people’s religion in formal papers.”

Blogger: The Muslim Network for Baha’i Rights
Article: Sacrificing the innocent
Originaly Posted On: 2008-01-14 14:56:37

Below is a necessary and informative article that was published on Iranian.com recently. Please read it if you wish to understand what Baha’is are going through within Iran:

Suppression of Baha’is of Iran in 1955
by Dr. Bahram Choubine

Translator’s Introduction

In introducing Ali Dashti’s seminal work, 23 Sal, Dr. Choubine has penned a learned essay that places the events of twentieth century Iran in their fuller perspective. This essay has been widely available on the internet. The erudite author has considerably expanded this essay, including more analysis and documentation, and offered it as a preface to Dasthi’s 23 Sal, distributed by Alburz Publishing, in Frankfurt, Germany. A section of this expanded essay (pages 34-42), appearing under the heading, “Sarkub-e Baha’iyan,” is provided below in translation with the kind permission of the author. All footnotes are by the author, unless otherwise noted, as are all comments in parentheses. Clarifying comments in square brackets [ ] are by the translator. Subheadings have been added in the translation to assist with the flow. The Persian original of this section is also available on-line.
– Ahang Rabbani

Read the full text by clicking here.

Blogger: Point of no return
Article: Jews still in Lebanon do not feel safe
Originaly Posted On: 2008-01-15 08:07:00

There could be over a hundred Jews still living in Lebanon, but they live in fear and do not feel safe, a young woman has written in a message to Point of no Return*:

“I was so glad when I found the blog on Lebanese Jews,” she wrote.” But of course being a Jew and a Lebanese young woman, living in Lebanon, I had to double-check before writing anything on that blog. YES, information is circulated that is a fraud. I agree that being a Jew cannot be dissociated with Israel.

“I think we are more than a hundred and that there are a few young Jews, of Jewish mothers still living in Lebanon. Unfortunately we live in fear and yes, we hide the fact of being Jewish. The religion of a person is specified on the identity cards in Lebanon, and we are registered as Christians (mostly).

” At the beginning of the war, we were targeted, I know that for a fact, because an aunt of mine was kidnapped and threatened with death. Her husband paid them. She left the country at her release.

” A few of us keep the traditions. Well it is difficult without a rabbi, etc. but in a few homes, candles are lit on Shabbat. I really advise any Lebanese Jew, let alone any Jew, NOT to visit Lebanon. We are not safe.”

When asked why she did not leave, the young woman, who had travelled outside Lebanon, wrote that she had married a Christian, as had her mother and grandmother. Nevertheless, she tried to keep Jewish traditions, and even baked challah for Friday night.

*scroll down to comment of 8 January 2008

Blogger: Point of no return
Article: Libyan concentration camp victims tell their story
Originaly Posted On: 2008-01-11 14:08:00

The story of the Jewish experience in the Libyan concentration camp at Giado will finally be told in a new book by Eric Salerno to be published this month.

The book, in Italian and titled Uccideteli tutti (”Kill them all”) echoes the words of Il Duce, Benito Mussolini, who ordered that all the Jews of Cyrenaica, then subject to Italian Fascist racial laws, be rounded up and interned in 1943. Hundreds died of starvation and disease - especially the young and the old. Others were deported to Italy and then delivered into the hands of the SS in Germany.

This neglected chapter of the Holocaust is told through interviews with survivors in Italy, the US and Israel. An appendix lists the names of the thousands who were interned at Giado.

Eric Salerno has been the Middle East correspondent of the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero for 20 years. He divides his time between Rome, Melbourne and Jerusalem.

Uccideteli tutti: Libia 1943: gli ebrei nel campo di concentramento fascista di Giado di Eric Salerno ( Il Saggiatore) 17 euros.

Blogger: The Muslim Network for Baha’i Rights
Article: Message from the Universal House of Justice concerning Baha?i rights in Iran
Originaly Posted On: 2007-12-29 20:09:31

The following message is from the Universal House of Justice, it’s beautiful, refreshing, and very encouraging. Please do read it. For your convenience the letter, which was published on the 25th of December, is also available in PDF format, one in English and the other in Farsi. You may find the links below the letter:

To the followers of Baha’u’llah in the Cradle of the Faith

Dear Baha’i Friends,

For the past three decades you have weathered storms of persecution with the heartfelt conviction that such tribulations are, ultimately, “the precursors of that Era of blissful felicity which is to incarnate God’s ultimate purpose for all mankind.” Religious and government authorities, who have always been the instigators of the cruelty meted out to you and your forebears, continue to deny you your God-given rights. They prohibit you from responding to the calumnies they spread about you and your beliefs while maintaining a climate of intimidation that severely threatens those who would come to your aid. Throughout, the international community and your fellow Baha’is from around the world have come to your defense. But now, justice-seeking, fair-minded Iranians from every walk of life in your homeland and abroad have begun to raise their voices in your defense and, in growing numbers, want to know the truth about the Faith.

Across your nation, in cities and towns, from neighbourhoods, schools, and university campuses, business establishments, government offices, and even from prison cells, more and more of your well-wishers are coming forward. School administrators, teachers, parents, and pupils have registered their outrage at the shameful treatment of young Baha’i school children; friends and neighbours have refused to allow government officials illegal entry to Baha’i homes; university students and faculty members have publicly and privately asserted their disapproval at the wrongful denial of access to higher education to Baha’is; civil servants have responded sympathetically to your efforts to secure your rights; journalists have displayed frustration at their inability to publish the truth of your case, and there are indications that enlightened clergy are willing to see your situation redressed.

Elsewhere in the world, where there is freedom to do so, Iranian intellectuals frequently express anger and dismay at your treatment; Iranian mass media recount your story and demand that the civil rights of all Iranians be safeguarded; countless members among the Iranian Diaspora sympathize with you, laud your courage, and seek to learn more about the principles that animate your lives.

To these are now being added Iranian organizations of civil society within and outside Iran, as well as a number of Iranian political parties. In this respect, in a recent development, certain political parties have publicly expressed concern over the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran, in one instance calling for the Baha’i Faith to be officially recognized as a religious minority. The Baha’i International Community, on behalf of the Baha’is worldwide, has formally conveyed appreciation to two such groups for their actions.

These are fate-laden days. The storms of tests and trials continue, but however dark clouds may be, they cannot dim the light appearing on the horizon. In response to such propitious developments, may you, with “fixed resolve and perfect confidence,” and avoiding involvement in partisan politics, seize every opportunity to join your fellow citizens in promoting ideals conductive to the prosperity of your cherished homeland, assured of our supplications at the Sacred Threshold that your noble endeavors may be richly confirmed.

Letter in PDF, English version
Letter in PDF, Farsi version

Blogger: Point of no return
Article: When silence is golden for emigration operations
Originaly Posted On: 2007-12-31 17:45:00

Yossi Melman of Haaretz adds his voice to the mutterings of disapproval at the high-profile exodus of 40 Iranian Jews to Israel, claiming such operations endanger the remaining community. (However, the opposite could be true: directing the media spotlight at the Jews still in Iran might be the best way to guarantee their safety. )

“The unnecessary media to-do surrounding the arrival of 40 Jews from Iran last week might harm immigration to Israel and the 28,000 Jews still in Iran. The Jewish Agency, the military censor and the government agency who contributed to these festivities, or who did not prevent them, might be sorry afterward.

“At the moment the response from Tehran has been minor. The leaders of Iran’s Jewish community, obviously on the instructions of their government, quickly denounced the efforts of the “Zionist regime” to entice them to immigrate. But people familiar with the Iranian regime’s behavior patterns say it will be difficult for them to act as if nothing has happened regarding an act they perceive as a callous Israeli provocation.

“Immigration to Israel from the Arab countries, Iran and the Soviet bloc became a key issue for all Israeli governments. For this reason two espionage organizations were put in charge of it: the Mossad (via the Bitzur unit) in Arab countries, and Nativ in Eastern Europe.

“Bitzur and Nativ organized impressive but secret immigration operations over the years. They were assisted by Jewish organizations like the American Joint Distribution Committee in bringing Jews to Israel from Morocco, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan - and according to foreign sources, from Iran as well.

“Their methods were essentially similar. Preparatory work was done in the community. Arrangements with the local government were preferable, so international pressure and pressure by Jewish organizations was used, and if necessary money changed hands. Only when an accommodation could not be reached to bring Jews out were other means invoked, such as smuggling them out. The Israeli press, and in many cases the foreign press as well, were in on the secret and knew how to keep it, recognizing that any report on the details might cost lives.

“The leaders of Muslim countries are ready to let Jews out as long as this does not become public knowledge. The moment details are leaked, their adversaries accuse them of strengthening the Zionist state and its army. That was the case when news of the immigration from Sudan leaked, and the country’s president, Jaafar Nimeiri, had to fend off accusations by his opponents about cooperation with the Zionist enemy.

“The Jews of Iran enjoy reasonable treatment. They have an organized community life and are free to conduct their religious rituals and businesses. Like most Iranian citizens, they are also allowed to go abroad, and when they return they are not asked what they did on their vacation. It may be assumed that the Iranian authorities know that most of them have relatives in Israel.

“In other words, as long as things remain quiet and do not appear on the public agenda, the Iranian authorities can come to terms with the situation. When the relationship between Iranian Jews and Iran becomes vociferous and public, they must respond. That is what happened when Rabbi Yehiel Eckstein’s International Fellowship of Christians and Jews announced in 2007 that it would pay tens of thousands of dollars to every Iranian Jew who came to live in Israel. Iranian spokesmen responded angrily and the heads of the Jewish community had to distance themselves from the rabbi’s initiative.”

Read article in full

JTA News article