Rally in Rio calls for Iran to respect human rights

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BWNS_834_00 (BWNS 20 June 2011) RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil —Representatives from government, religious communities and civil society organizations were among the 800 human rights supporters who gathered to call upon Iran to cease its persecution of Baha’is and other religious minorities.

Participants travelled from all over Brazil to take part in the rally, held at Rio’s Copacabana Beach yesterday, some spending up to 15 hours on buses to get there.

Almost 8,000 images depicting the faces of Iran’s seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders were on display at the beach, corresponding to the number of days of detention the seven had suffered after three years in prison. The photographs were arranged in a large circle, representing the world, and the union of people of all races and nations.

In his remarks, Brazilian congressman Chico Alencar set the tone for the day’s activities, saying, “Religious freedom is something that cannot be touched.”

A Jewish participant, Natan Klabin, agreed. “We know well what it is to be persecuted because of one’s religion, and thus we know how important it is to show solidarity with other repressed minorities,” he said.

BWNS_834_03 Babalowa Ivanir dos Santos – representing the Afro-Brazilian religion, Candomble – spoke of the persecution his community has often faced. “This is why we feel that we must protest against all kinds of religious intolerance. I hope one day we will no longer need to promote demonstrations like this one, in any country,” said Mr. Santos.

One thousand yellow vests – printed with the phrases “Today we are all Baha’is” and “Free the 7 Baha’is imprisoned in Iran” – were distributed, along with leaflets about religious freedom. Musicians also contributed to the programme, performing songs on the themes of freedom and solidarity.

Brazilian Baha’i Iradj Eghrari said that demonstrating solidarity among religions is essential to show the Iranian authorities that persecution is not only a matter of concern for Baha’is.

“If a person does not demonstrate support towards persecuted religious minorities, he or she may well be the next victim of religious intolerance,” said Mr. Eghrari.

The seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders were members of a national-level ad hoc group that helped attend to the needs of Iran’s 300,000-strong Baha’i community. After an illegal 30 month detention, they were tried on trumped-up charges and each sentenced in August 2010 to 20 years in jail.

Source: http://news.bahai.org/story/834

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6 Responses

  1. anonymous

    June 26, 2011 3:27 am

    Here are some more sources of information, videos and images about the rally in Rio, Brazil:

    http://12june.org/?p=2005
    Rally in Rio for Religious Freedom in Iran
    June 21, 2011

    Rally in Rio, Brazil for the Baha’is of Iran

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m02eQD_9Yu0

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oAasIeX9Fs&feature=player_embedded

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uam8iX_ctJA&feature=player_embedded

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9oOLSm8I8M&feature=player_embedded

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxIHsf8M2rk&feature=player_embedded

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rv0L7d71dk

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wfFM4T_daI

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfO0xqTZdrk

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctGz91Q__MU

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/sasgbahai/sets/72157627008875050/with/5854213075/

    Reply
  2. anonymous

    June 26, 2011 3:28 am

    Here are some sources of information, videos and images about the bicyle ride event in Madrid, Spain:

    http://12june.org/?p=1974
    “Bicicletada por los presos de conciencia en Irán” – Madrid, Spain
    June 13, 2011

    Bicycle ride in Madrid, Spain for the Baha’is of Iran

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvVvbhnIZvU&feature=player_embedded

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WeY1u0X-_0s

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/united4iran/sets/72157626947153520/with/5826595610/

    Reply
  3. anonymous

    June 26, 2011 3:36 am

    Here are the direct links to the 36 images of the rally in Rio, Brazil (images 1-12):

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/5854213075_fdc4e7b931_z.jpg
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/5854764108_c3f78a484a_z.jpg
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2724/5853594276_580af1c1f3_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5853041657_7f07642461_z.jpg
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/5853596076_416e9ecd7e_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5853043523_ba90744bbb_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5071/5853044271_75658f0d61_z.jpg
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/5853045189_7147bea59d_z.jpg
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/5853599382_17cff2bdd5_z.jpg
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/5853600354_9789eb1f0e_z.jpg
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/5853601324_29a770380c_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5189/5853602244_e8c37a33f4_z.jpg

    Reply
  4. anonymous

    June 26, 2011 3:37 am

    Here are the direct links to the 36 images of the rally in Rio, Brazil (images 13-24):

    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/5853602946_2fa1c7e683_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5237/5853050321_b758243296_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5031/5853604948_692df97ca6_z.jpg
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/5853605798_02a9219e2b_z.jpg
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/5853606732_1c3f286104_z.jpg
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/5853054093_46c6cf701b_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5278/5853608350_d90dcbafd2_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5272/5853609260_e735480f7d_z.jpg
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2606/5853056531_8aedec7367_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5263/5853057445_6e74746c4a_z.jpg
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/5853612172_e0e58f3380_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5853613066_185fcf84f4_z.jpg

    Reply
  5. anonymous

    June 26, 2011 3:38 am

    Here are the direct links to the 36 images of the rally in Rio, Brazil (images 25-36):

    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5160/5853613884_f016ba1cbd_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5853614738_97a532dbf8_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5853615654_e3e54282aa_z.jpg
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/5853616494_bd349f10f8_z.jpg
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2780/5853617588_1e155c2c36_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5273/5853618602_932d4fdffe_z.jpg
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/5853065891_1048ea024f_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5853620332_bb8800643f_z.jpg
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/5853621422_c812e84a67_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5233/5853068735_7b1cfba3e3_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5853623412_7db5ae0cb7_z.jpg
    http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5853070605_e80ae5262b_z.jpg

    Reply

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