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American jazz musicians compose winning song for Olympics

BRUNSWICK, Georgia, United States, 5 August 2008

Two U.S. jazz musicians combined their knowledge of Chinese music, Brazilian samba, and American jazz to write one of the songs being featured at the Beijing Olympic Games. “Beijing Olympics Hao Yuing (Good Luck),” composed by Phil Morrison and Keith Williams, was one of only about 30 works selected in the final phase of a competition sponsored by the Beijing Olympic Committee.

Baha’is reject allegations of subversive activity in Iran

NEW YORK, 3 August 2008

The Baha’i International Community categorically rejects statements by an Iranian prosecutor that seven Baha’is detained in Tehran have “confessed” to operating an “illegal” organization with ties to Israel and other countries. “We deny in the strongest possible terms the suggestion that Baha’is in Iran have engaged in any subversive activity,” said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations

Vietnam recognizes Baha’is as religious community

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 31 July 2008

The government of Vietnam has given full recognition to the Baha’i community as a religious organization. A certificate was presented to representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Vietnam at a ceremony on 25 July. It was the final act in a series of steps that included the election four months ago of the Baha’i Assembly – itself a landmark event in that it was the first time in many years that elections for the governing council were held.

Most Holy Book of Baha’i Faith published in Norwegian

BEITOSTOLEN, Norway, 29 July 2008

The Baha’i book known as the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the “Most Holy Book,” has been published in Norwegian for the first time, bringing to about 30 the number of different language editions of the work. The book, originally written in Arabic, was presented this month at a ceremony in Beitostolen attended by more than 300 Baha’is and their guests. “I am really looking forward to reading the book in Norwegian,” said 19-year-old Dehlia Eide of Stavanger, who participated in the ceremony.

Arsonists in Iran target Baha’i homes, vehicles

NEW YORK, 28 July 2008

Acts of arson targeting homes and vehicles are the latest violent tactics directed against the Baha’is of Iran. “In the early hours of the morning of 18 July, the house of the Shaaker family in Kerman went up in flames, only weeks after their car had been torched and in the wake of a series of threatening phone calls,” said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations

Baha’is commemorate martyrdom of the Bab

HAIFA, Israel, 6 July 2008

This week Baha’is mark the 158th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Bab, one of the two central figures in the founding of their religion. On 9 July 1850, at noon, the Bab was put to death by firing squad in the public square of Tabriz, Iran. Six years earlier, He had declared that He was a messenger of God whose mission was to prepare the way for the imminent arrival of the Promised One of all religions who would come to establish a new age of peace and prosperity in the world.

“People can sense the presence of God”

Acre, Israel, 8 July 2008

Muslims to Mecca, Jews to Jerusalem, Christians to Bethlehem, Buddhists to Lumbini - and Baha'is to Acre. The holiest spots on earth to Baha'is - the resting places of Baha'u'llah and the Bab, the founders of the Baha'i Faith and both considered Manifestations of God - attract thousands of pilgrims and visitors each year.

Baha’i shrines chosen as World Heritage sites

QUEBEC CITY, 8 July 2008

A United Nations committee meeting here has determined that two Baha'i shrines in Israel possess "outstanding universal value" and should be considered as part of the cultural heritage of humanity. The decision today by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee means that the two most sacred sites for Baha'is - the resting places of the founders of their religion - join a list of internationally recognized sites like the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and Stonehenge

Nobel laureates call for release of Iranian Baha’i prisoners

NEW YORK, 30 June 2008

Six Nobel Peace Prize laureates have issued a statement calling on the Iranian government to free immediately seven prominent Iranian Baha’is imprisoned in Tehran. The six Nobel winners, under the banner of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, called on the Iranian government to guarantee the safety of the Baha’is –- being held in Evin Prison with no formal charges and no access to lawyers -- and to grant them an unconditional release

Seven jailed Iranian Baha’is make brief contact with families

NEW YORK, 19 June 2008

Seven prominent Baha’is imprisoned in Iran have each been allowed a brief phone call to their families, the Baha’i International Community has learned. The calls were the first contact with the jailed Baha’is since six of them were arrested on 14 May in pre-dawn raids at their homes in Tehran. The seventh was arrested in March in the city of Mashhad. The Baha’i International Community has learned that on 3 June, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet and Mrs