Sunday, July 01, 2007

New Site: The Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights

A new site, still in a draft form, has just been created. It is titled "The Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights." It's authors are "Muslim interfaith activists who are deeply concerned with the treatment of Baha’is within the Middle East." The authors host the well-known MIDEAST YOUTH and the ME Faith websites. In this site's first post, it states the following:

Why this website?
June 29th, 2007 by Admin

Many of you are probably wondering why a Muslim network in defense of Baha’i rights exist. The answer is very simple - the best way to promote tolerance, human rights, religious freedom and respect is to rally for a cause that doesn’t necessarily affect you. When you strongly believe in a value, you should apply it to all people equally regardless of their faith, cultural differences, political stance or nationality. If within your country this doesn’t happen, as a loyal citizen you should actively enforce that such rights be met for the sake of a better and more productive society.

In this network, there are a few things that one should keep in mind:

. The authors are Muslim interfaith activists who are deeply concerned with the treatment of Baha’is within the Middle East.
. We don’t believe in the Baha’i faith. But there are minorities within our societies who are practicing Baha’is and for that, their rights are very rarely recognized, simply because of their religious differences.
. We created this site to demand that the rights of Baha’i minorities is recognized by not only people, but by law.
. We respectfully demand that all governments within the Arab and Muslim world allow Baha’i citizens to have equal opportunities in all fields and to practice their faith freely without facing any threats or discrimination whatsoever.
. We would like to make the general public of the region be aware of Baha’i human rights abuses in order to take effective action against it. We can only successfully achieve the goals of this website if we move our citizens towards real action, no matter what our religious differences are. We are all civilians in need of basic rights, and thus we should join forces regardless of our differences and unite in a celebration of our diversity. Join us in this worthy struggle and make our goals a greater possibility in the name of freedom.


These authors are to be recognized and appreciated for their courage, clarity of vision, audacity and intellectual honesty. They truly reflect the pure essence and nature of Islam.

On another note, this blog "Baha'i Faith in Egypt" celebrates its one year and one month anniversary. The first post, entitled "Independent Religion," was published on 1 June 2006. One might ask: why one year and one month? the answer is quite simple: as I am not much into celebrations, it was simply forgotten to commemorate the one year anniversary, but was reminded today that this landmark had already passed, hence the anniversary is remembered now....

16 comments:

  1. happy new year for your worldwide blog. about the new site it is wonderfull to found other people share you your hope in future &^ carry with you your dream in unity of aim & freedom of belive

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  2. The new site clearly illustrates the dynamic forces that are at work in the Middle East. The voices of moderation and the true spirit of that region are finally emerging and overshadowing the other negative forces that have been pulling down the Middle East toward destruction.

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  3. As you said in the introduction, Bilo, this is another voice of reason, justice, and compassion representing the true spirit of Islam - that great religion that is based on submission (to God's will) and on compassion.

    May their efforts crown the Middle East with the jewels of understanding, respect, and justice. The Baha'is are only asking to be allowed to live in their own countries in peace and harmony as they devote their energies to serve the same countries that discriminate against them.

    The groundswell of grassroots movements of enlightened Muslims is welcome and laudable. It is reminiscent of the greatness of the Islamic nations of earlier times where even their enemies were treated with nobility and dignity.

    And congratulations to you, Bilo, on the progress in sharing news and developments related to the Baha'is in Egypt for one year and one month! Happy Anniversary!

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  4. Nabil,
    Thank you for your support.

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  5. They remind me of the withes who join the fight for civil rights during the 1950’s in America.

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  6. Every civil rights movement is in need of those who can champion it. The fact that they are Muslims adds credibility and legitimacy to the struggle, just like the example you gave.

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  7. Marco,
    By the way, thank you for translating and posting their site on your blog.

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  8. a very welcomed development furthering the appreciation of the Message Muhammad shared with us. And congratulations on your year-and-a-month anniversary!

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  9. That's an example os the tenacity os bahá'ís in muslima conutries, they conquering the respect of their fellow muslims.

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  10. Congratulations on the belated anniversary of the start of this unfortunately much needed and well researched blog. Thank you dear Bilo!

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  11. It's hard to believe that it's only been a bit more than a year since you've been on line. This blog was not born an infant like so many others. It's been a powerhouse of in-depth analysis and up-to-the-minute news. Congratulations.

    Greetings of admiration too, go to the young authors of the Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights for their courage and open mindedness. They may be a small voice, but their mere existence is very heartwarming.

    Faisal

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  12. Thank you all for your kind remarks.

    Faisal,
    This youth network is actually becoming quite influential and formidable...they gladden the hearts of all that can see through the fog.... When we see this we cannot but come to the ultimate conclusion that there is definitely hope for humanity.

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  13. While reviewing the comment section on this new site I noticed that some were from Baha'is who were quite ecstatic about the site, even offering to help with it, while others attacked it and even [wrongly] accused the site of being deceptively created by Baha'i internet agencies, and describing them as “Zionist cult of Bahaism.”

    It is critical to clearly and emphatically point out here that this new site "The Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights" was created and maintained by an entirely independent group of Muslims who believe in the true essence of Islam and who want to promote acceptance, tolerance and harmony between all people regardless of their religion, race or ethnicity.

    Let there be no doubt that this site has NO connection whatsoever, in the original idea of its creation or its maintenance, to any Baha'is or Baha'i Institutions or Agencies. It was however stated in one of the comments that the idea for the site was inspired by material available on another blog.

    Even though it is natural to be tempted to offer help when agreeing with the published material, the authors of the site should be left alone in maintaining the site, gathering material and publishing information on it. This would ensure and guarantee its integrity, its credibility and its reliability.

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  14. Congratulations. Great and much needed effort, indeed.

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