May 14th, 2010 marks two years since the initial incarceration of 7 members of the Baha’i community in Iran: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet (arrested two months earlier), Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. To highlight the cases of these 7 Baha’i citizens, we asked activists worldwide to replicate the sizes of the cells (3×4 meters for the 5 men, and 2×3 meters for the 2 women) and send a photo. The response was overwhelming. Notes, e-mails, video, old photographs of the leaders, former students, community representatives from all the world participated.
"Now that you are in prison... for making the world a better place... it brings tear to my eyes. And all I can do is pray. The things you taught me I will always know." -former student of Fariba Kamalabadi
A former student of Fariba Kamalabadi sent an old photograph of the two and letter she wrote to her former teacher. Diane Ala’i, Representative to the United Nations for the Bahá’í International Community in Geneva, also sent in a photo, expressing that the worldwide show of support would “certainly mean a lot to all the Bahá’ís… unjustly imprisoned in Iran.” Another activist invited strangers off the street to participate, attaching to the photos a note reading “These citizens came voluntarily, never having met us before, not previously knowing who the Baha’i were or what was going on in Iran’s justice system. We met them on the street! Such solidarity among humankind!” Thanks to everyone who participated in this amazing show of support for the Baha’i 7 and who contributed to the video below. (There were many photos, and they’re still coming in, so we’ll post them as we get them.)
May 14th, 2010 marks two years since the initial incarceration of 7 members of the Baha’i community in Iran: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet (arrested two months earlier), Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. To highlight the cases of these 7 Baha’i citizens, we asked activists worldwide to replicate the sizes of the cells (3×4 meters for the 5 men, and 2×3 meters for the 2 women) and send a photo. The response was overwhelming. Notes, e-mails, video, old photographs of the leaders, former students, community representatives from all the world participated. 