~ report compiled by Samir Selmanovic
How many times have you heard people ask, where are the Muslim voices against discrimination and oppression? Here is a group of Middle Eastern youth who have come together in defense of minorities within their communities. We (Faith House Manhattan) have already shared with you an interview with Arab atheist posted by this vibrant group of people from Mideast Youth (www.mideastyouth.com). Their most recent effort is the creation of a video to bring attention to the rights of the Baha'is, a religious minority that has often found itself persecuted in predominantly Muslim countries.
Nowhere is the persecution worse than in Iran and Egypt where they have been denied basic rights and seen their sacred places destroyed and vandalized. In Iran, where the Baha'i Faith first emerged, Baha'i schools are shut down, leaders of the faith are arrested, executed, or harassed, and Baha'is are denied the right to higher education. In Egypt, Baha'is are not given identity papers, thus preventing them from attaining the basic rights of citizenship.
A group of predominantly Muslim youth have banded together to speak out against the discrimination. They formed a website, www.BahaiRights.org, which catalogues abuses against Baha'is and have now released a video which uses images from the film Persepolis to make a powerful statement against the persecution of the Baha'is. "When minorities are not given their rights, how can we ever expect to exercise our own?" says Kawthar Muhaib, a member of the Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights.
Censeo Productions
Safeguard The Innocent: Video in Defense of the Baha'i Minority
When I was in Europe this Summer, Egyptian Tourism Ad was on CNN International and BBC all day long, after every news. Mideast Youth's first video, called "Egyptian Tourism Ad," edited this popular TV advertisement into an awareness campaign for the condition of Baha'is in Egypt. It has been written about in a prominent Egyptian paper, Al Masry Al Yowm.
Egyptian Tourism Ad (Remake)
So there you have it. Muslim youth is inspiring us Christians and Jews, to act on behalf of Baha'is! Thank you Jeeeesus! Hallelujah! It is wonderfully interdependent new world. May our efforts help bring freedom to our brothers and sisters in Iran and Egypt.
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To watch the video in Farsi: http://tinyurl.com/63kpze
For more information contact:
Esra'a Al Shafei, Director, www.MideastYouth.com, director@mideastyouth.com
Kawthar Muhaib, Project Coordinator, MideastYouth.com, kaw@mideastyouth.com
More about our efforts to defend the rights of the Baha'i minority:
BBC Persian:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/story/2007/07/070719_si-wkf-bahaiedefence.shtml
Muslim Arab Youth Defend Baha'i Rights:
http://tinyurl.com/6odhqw
MideastYouth.com in the Press:
http://www.mideastyouth.com/press-room/
It`s an admirable work you are doing,to improve the life of the Bahai population.
Please carry-on and spread the message all over the world.
I wish they would arrive to the same level of flourishing and have the possibilities to create an environment of wonderful gardens like in Haifa Israel.
With most friendly admiration
to your activities
Tsvi
Posted by: Tsvi Yeshurun | Nov 13, 2008 at 01:47 PM