12.26.2006

The Situation of the Baha'is in Egypt

The Universal House of Justice, the supreme administrative institution of the Baha'i Faith, recently issued a letter to the Baha'is of Egypt on the occasion of the ruling the Supreme Court of Egypt prohibiting Baha'is from obtaining national identification cards. The full text of this historically significant letter can be found here.

The ruling of the Egyptian court effectively denies the Baha'is of Egypt access to basic rights of citizenship, including education, financial services, and medical care, solely on the basis of their religious belief. In commenting on the need for the rectification of this injustice, the Universal House of Justice makes the following profound statement, placing into full context the incongruous nature of the decision of the Egyptian judiciary:
The ruling was unreasonable not only because it is contrary to prescriptions set forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a signatory, but more especially because the sacred scriptures of Islam extol tolerance as a precept of social stability.

If you have not already done so, please follow the link and read this soul-stirring letter in its entirety.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The letter addressed to the Baha'is of Egypt so profoundly illustrates this passage:

Say, every matter related to state affairs which ye raise for discussion falls under the shadow of one of the words sent down from the heaven of His glorious and exalted utterance. Thus have We recounted unto thee that which will exhilarate thy heart, will bring solace to thine eyes and will enable thee to arise for the promotion of His Cause amidst all peoples.

Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 150

Thank you for sharing this important development pertinent to the wellbeing of all humanity.

Victor said...

Thank you, Charleen, for your comment and for sharing that lovely passage.