1. education

Myriads
Quarterly Newssheet for Norfolk and Waveney Baha’is, and their friends
Jalal to Rahmat 172 BE
BAHA’IS ARE IRAN’S LARGEST RELIGIOUS MINORITY
with an estimated 300,000 members. Violently oppressed by
the ruling clergy, Baha’is have been persecuted in Iran since
the Faith arose in Persia in the mid-19th century.
Baha’is are systematically denied access to higher education in
Iran today. Baha’i university applicants are refused even with
strong results from secondary school. Without credentials they
are barred from pursuing all sorts of professions. They cannot
be doctors, lawyers, professors or scientists, for example.
In response to this persecution, Baha’is have improvised a
decentralized, semi-underground college known as the Baha’i
Institute for Higher Education (BIHE). Baha’is value education
highly and it is one of their basic beliefs that all people should
be educated. BIHE was founded in 1987 and offers over 1050
courses including Architecture, Literature, Maths, Medicine,
Chemistry and Engineering. It has a combined faculty and
administrative staff of approximately 475 members and
currently accepts about 450 students into its first year programs,
with an average of 1000 students applying for places every year.
Issue 23
Spring 2015
Baha’i
‘underground’
university
excels in Iran
communication technologies. Other classes meet in students’
or faculty members’ homes. In addition, an affiliated global
faculty has been established, with hundreds of accredited
professors from universities outside Iran who assist BIHE as
researchers, teachers and consultants.
BIHE faculty largely consists of professionals who once held
teaching positions at Iranian universities, but because of their
affiliation with the Bahá’í Faith and the increasing oppression
of the Bahá’ís in Iran, they later lost their jobs. These
remarkable volunteers have devoted their expertise over the last
20 years to the development and implementation of a top notch
university curriculum.
BIHE applicants conform to the same rigorous academic
standards as other students in Iran. They must pass the national
entrance exam, and meet all the BIHE academic requirements.
BIHE qualifications are recognised at many prestigious
universities around the world, such as Harvard Graduate
School and Stanford Medical School. BIHE graduates have
also been accepted at 70 different university graduate
Undeterred by relentless religious persecution, BIHE employs programs outside Iran including Yale and Berkeley in the US,
a unique blend of online and offline learning. For security and Durham University, University College London (UCL)
reasons, some courses are provided on-line using leading-edge and Anglia Ruskin University in the UK.
‘Education is Not a Crime’ campaign
‘TO LIGHT A CANDLE’ is a 53-minute documentary film by Maziar Bahari,
who is a (non-Baha’i) Iranian-Canadian journalist and filmmaker. The film is
being shown as part of the worldwide Education is Not a Crime campaign to
raise global awareness of situation of Baha’is in Iran. The UK premiere of the
film in London was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Baha’i
performer Omid Djalili (who recently appeared at the Norwich Theatre Royal
as part of his Iranalamadingdong tour). The film has also been commended
by UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, Those
who have seen the film describe it as interesting, hopeful, touching and highly
informative.
To Light A Candle was shown in Norwich in February, but if you missed this
you have two more opportunities to see it: 1) It is available to download or
you can watch the trailer at http://film.educationisnotacrime.me and
2) It will be screened in Norwich again on Friday 15th May with discussion
following (see Events overleaf).
The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of
inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its
treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.
Norfolk Baha’i Events
The events below are OPEN TO ALL. Please call or email for more information on the event you
would like to attend. You are assured of a WARM WELCOME!
DATE
TIME
EVENT DETAILS and EMAIL CONTACT
LOCATION
PHONE
Wed 8 April
7.30 pm
Devotional: All welcome [tom.fox9@btconnect.com]
Edgefield, nr Holt
01263 587246
Fri 17 April
7 pm doors
open, for
7.30 pm start
Edgefield World & Spiritual Cinema Club: Films by
Artists for Art - A collection of 5 Films: Comfortable
seats. All welcome [tomfox@btconnect.com]
Edgefield Village
Hall, near Holt
01263 587246
Tickets £4.50
Sat 2 May
Afternoon
and evening
12th Day of Ridvan Event: 3.00pm - 6.00pm Junior Youth
& Children's Arts Activity, then 6.15 pm - 10.00 pm Potluck Commemoration and Celebration
All welcome!
[nsw9@btinternet.com]
Thorpe St Andrew
01603 705031
07736 452 553
Please RSVP
Fri 8 May
8.00 pm
Devotional on ‘Creation’ followed by Discussion on
Science & Religion: All welcome [iain.bridget19@gmail.com]
Gorleston
01493 665820
Sat 9 May
6.30 pm
Soul Food: Live music, readings from all over the world.
Food served. All welcome [arefeh9@googlemail.com]
Off Yarmouth
Road, Norwich
01603 700295
Please RSVP
Mon 11
May
7 pm doors
open, for
7.30 pm start
Edgefield World & Spiritual Cinema Club: Wings of
Desire - a film by Wim Wenders, about human virtue:
Comfortable seats. All welcome [tomfox@btconnect.com]
Edgefield Village
Hall, near Holt
01263 587246
Tickets £4.50
Tues 12 May
2 pm - 4 pm
Devotional: All welcome [nsw9@btinternet.com]
Thorpe St Andrew
01603 705031
Wed 13 May
7.30 pm
Devotional: All welcome [tom.fox9@btconnect.com]
Edgefield, nr Holt
01263 587246
Fri 15 May
7.45 pm
Film and Discussion. ‘To Light A Candle’ Another
chance to see this film, ask any questions, and engage in
open discussion about Baha’i Education. All welcome.
[nsw9@btinternet.com]
Thorpe St Andrew
01603 705031
Sun 7 June
9.00 am to
4.00 pm
Forum event: Norfolk Baha’is are hosting an Exhibition
Stall at the Forum on Millenium Plain. We’d love to see
you there! [navnav9@live.co.uk]
The Forum,
Norwich city
centre
01603 700295
07847 613 250
Sat 13 June
6.30 pm
Soul Food: Live music, readings from all over the world.
Food served. All welcome [arefeh9@googlemail.com]
Off Yarmouth
Road, Norwich
01603 700295
Please RSVP
Wed 17 June
7.30 pm
Devotional: All welcome [tom.fox9@btconnect.com]
Edgefield, nr Holt
01263 587246
Fri 19 June
7 pm doors
open, for
7.30 pm start
Edgefield Village
Edgefield World & Spiritual Cinema Club: The Rocket Indonesian/ Australian film about loss: Comfortable seats. Hall, near Holt
All welcome [tomfox@btconnect.com]
Fri 19 June
8.00 pm
Devotional & Discussion: All welcome
[iain.bridget19@gmail.com]
Gorleston
01493 665820
Fri 26 June
7.45 pm
Questions That Arise: Explore questions arising from
life’s journey. Open to all
[nsw9@btinternet.com]
Thorpe St Andrew
01603 705031
01263 587246
Tickets £4.50
Local and National Contact Details:
If you would like more information about the Faith or would like to become a Baha’i, please contact
Tony McCarthy, Secretary of the Norwich Spiritual Assembly 01603 625502
Alternatively, you may contact;
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United Kingdom, 27 Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PD
Tel: 020 7584 2566 www.bahai.org.uk
If you would like to join a local Study Circle (adult) or local Children’s Class (age 4 - 11)
please contact Taraneh Jahanpour on 07876 254 976
For local Junior Youth (age 11 - 15) or older Youth groups please contact Emily Green emily@emilyrosegreen.co.uk
For all Baha’i activities in North Suffolk, including Tranquility Evenings, please contact Rose Norgate on 01502 712369