Illinois Rep. Kirk - Statement for Congressional Record on Siyah
Chal.doc E1906, 1907 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - Extension of Remarks October
17, 2002 Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Baha'i Faith HON.
MARK STEVEN KIRK OF ILLINOIS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The 150th Anniversary of the Baha'i Faith
HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK OF ILLINOIS U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 17, 2002
Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, this month the American Baha'i community, which
has its national headquarters in Illinois, will be commemorating the
150th Anniversary of the beginnings of the Baha'i Faith in Iran. The
Baha'i Faith is a world religion with more than 5 million adherents in
some 230 countries and territories including more than 140,000 members
here in the United States. The Baha'i House of Worship in my district of
Illinois is registered as a national historic site that has drawn more
than five million visitors to enjoy its unique architecture and serene
gardens since its completion in 1953.
This October is a special time for the American Baha'i community because
it was during this month that the founder of the Baha'i Faith,
Baha'u'llah, was first overwhelmed with the Baha'i message of love and
unity while unjustly imprisoned in one of Persia's (now Iran's) worst
dungeons, the Siyah Chal. After his release from this dungeon,
Baha'u'llah promoted this message despite being banished from Baghdad to
Istanbul, from Istanbul to Edirne, and eventually from Edirne to the
prison city of Acre where he died in 1892 after having lived in exile
for forty years for his belief in the oneness of humanity. The Baha'i
Faith is based on the principles of cooperation and peace outlined by
Baha'u'llah. He taught that there is only one God, that the conscience
of man is sacred and to be respected, that racial diversity contributes
to the overall beauty of mankind, and that women and men are equals in
God's sight. He taught that a spiritual solution is required to address
the disparities of wealth distribution and that religion and science
must agree. He was among the first to express the need for an
international auxiliary language, emphasize the importance of universal
education, and advise that a commonwealth of nations was needed for
establishing global peace and security. The significance of these
principles could not be overemphasized in today's volatile world.
It is astounding to think how advanced these concepts were 150 years ago
not only in an ancient Persian culture, but also in the United States.
Slavery and persecution based on race were widely accepted facts of life
at that time. Women in the United States were still 70 years away from
getting the vote. Global literacy was low and universal education was
unheard of in most places. Colonial exploitation was on the rise and
workers enjoyed few protections. Unfortunately, just as the Baha'i
message was met with hostility in Persia in 1852, it still faces
persecution in that region today. The Islamic Republic of Iran regards
Baha'is as heretics who, according to Islamic law, should be executed.
Baha'is, along with Iran's other religious minorities, are prevented
from exercising their right to religious freedom. They are excluded from
institutions of higher education, denied jobs, and have had many of
their holy places, cemeteries and properties seized or destroyed. They
are denied their most basic human rights.
Since 1982, Congress has adopted eight resolutions condemning Iran's
treatment of the Baha'is, its largest religious minority. With the
support of the U.S. government, the UN General Assembly has adopted
annual resolutions condemning these human rights abuses. Yet, Baha'is
still await the religious freedom called for in those UN resolutions and
promised in Iran's constitution. The Baha'i community remains an
oppressed religious minority and is denied rights to organize, elect
leaders, and to conduct freely its religious activities. On the 150th
anniversary of Baha'u'llah's imprisonment and the founding of the Baha'i
Faith, we salute along with the American Baha'i community the ideals of
universal brotherhood, peace, cooperation, and understanding espoused by
Baha'u'llah. These are Baha'i values, they are American values, and they
are universal values. I also would like to recognize the immense
sacrifices that many around the world have made striving to ensure that
true liberty and justice for all becomes not just an American dream, but
also a global reality.
Baha'i Faith
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