Education chosen for relaunch in Thames Valley

Sept. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Thames Valley Baha’i Community has chosen education as the theme for the relaunch of its regular 'thought for the month' Bahá’í webpost.

The decision to pick education as the topic came as Thames Valley Bahá’í Shawn Khorassani urged students getting ready to start university in the UK to spare a thought for Bahá’ís who want to study in Iran.

This followed the announcement that the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) has been declared illegal by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

In an open letter to Iran’s minister for higher education, the Bahá’í International Community is calling for an end to “the unjust and oppressive practices” that bar Baha’is and other young Iranians from university.

Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations, said: “To actively deprive any youth of education is reprehensible and against all legal, religious, moral, and humanitarian standards. No government should deny this fundamental and sacred right to its citizens.”

September 2011’s ‘thought for the month’ is:
“The primary, the most urgent requirement is the promotion of education. It is inconceivable that any nation should achieve prosperity and success unless this paramount, this fundamental concern is carried forward.

“The principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples is ignorance. Today the mass of the people are uniformed even as to ordinary affairs, how much less do they grasp the core of the important problems and complex needs of the time.” The Secret of Divine Civilisation, p109 [32]

‘Thought for the month’ highlights selected writings of the Bahá’í Faith, each taken from the Bahá’í Reference Library. The thoughts can be viewed at http://tvbahai.org.uk

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West Berkshire Bahá'i Community and Thames Valley Bahá'i Community meet regularly to discuss Bahá'i teachings and beliefs. The Bahá'i faith is an independent world religion. Its principles include: equality of women and men and universal education.