[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21172]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        COMMEMORATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAHA'I FAITH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, this month the American Baha'i community, 
which has its national headquarters in Illinois, will be commemorating 
the 150th Anniversary of the beginnings of the Baha'i Faith in Iran. 
The Baha'i Faith is a world religion with more than 5 million adherents 
in some 230 countries and territories including more than 140,000 
members here in the United States. The Baha'i House of Worship in my 
district of Illinois is registered as a national historic site that has 
drawn more than five million visitors to enjoy its unique architecture 
and serene gardens since its completion in 1953.
  This October is a special time for the American Baha'i community 
because it was during this month that the founder of the Baha'i Faith, 
Bahau'llah, was first overwhelmed with the Baha'i message of love and 
unity while unjustly imprisoned in one of Persia's (now Iran) worst 
dungeons, the Siyah Chal. After his release from this dungeon, 
Bahad'u'llah promoted this message despite being banished from Baghdad 
to Istanbul, from Istanbul to Edirne, and eventually from Edirne to the 
prison city of Acre where he died in 1892 after having lived in exile 
for forty years for his belief in the oneness of humanity.
  The Baha'i Faith is based on the principles of cooperation and peace 
outlined by Bahad'u'llah. He taught that there is only one God, that 
the conscience of man is sacred and to be respected, that racial 
diversity contributes to the overall beauty of mankind, and that women 
and men are equals in God's sight. He taught that a spiritual solution 
is required to address the disparities of wealth distribution and that 
religion and science must agree. He was among the first to express the 
need for an international auxiliary language, emphasize the importance 
of universal education, and advise that a commonwealth of nations was 
needed for establishing global peace and security. The significance of 
these principles could not be overemphasized in today's volatile world.
  It is astounding to think how advanced these concepts were 150 years 
ago not only in an ancient Persian culture, but also in the United 
States. Slavery and persecution based on race were widely accepted 
facts of life at that time. Women in the United States were still 70 
years away from getting the vote. Global literacy was low and universal 
education was unheard of in most places. Colonial exploitation was on 
the rise and workers enjoyed few protections.
  Unfortunately, just as the Baha'i message was met with hostility in 
Persia in 1852, it still faces persecution in that region today. The 
Islamic Republic of Iran regards Baha'is as heretics who, according to 
Islamic law, should be executed. Baha'is, along with Iran's other 
religious minorities, are prevented from exercising their right to 
religious freedom. They are excluded from institutions of higher 
education, denied jobs, and have had many of their holy places, 
cemeteries and properties seized or destroyed. They are denied their 
most basic human rights.
  Since 1982, Congress has adopted eight resolutions condemning Iran's 
treatment of the Baha'is, its largest religious minority. With the 
support of the U.S. government, the UN General Assembly has adopted 
annual resolutions condemning these human rights abuses. Yet, Baha'is 
still await the religious freedom called for in those UN resolutions 
and promised in Iran's constitution. The Baha'i community remains an 
oppressed religious minority and is denied rights to organize, elect 
leaders, and to conduct freely its religious activities.
  On the 150th anniversary of Baha'u'llah's imprisonment and the 
founding of the Baha'i faith, we salute along with the American Baha'i 
community the ideals of universal brotherhood, peace, cooperation, and 
understanding espoused by Baha'u'llah. These are Baha'i values, they 
are American values, and they are universal values. I also would like 
to recognize the immense sacrifices that many around the world have 
made striving to ensure that true liberty and justice for all becomes 
not just an American dream, but also a global reality.

                          ____________________