For several weeks last year, I shared a cell in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison with Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, two leaders of Iran’s minority Bahai faith. I came to see them as my sisters, women whose only crimes were to peacefully practice their religion and resist pressure from their captors to compromise their principles. For this, apparently, they and five male colleagues were sentenced this month to 20 years in prison.

Sign letters of support through Web sites such as United4Iran.com

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. Government representatives were on hand to observe the balloting.

Nelson Évora made a name for himself by winning the gold medal in the Triple Jump event at the recent Beijing Olympics 2008.

Our own Bahá’í community in Singapore was greatly honoured when Mr. Selvam Satanam, in his capacity as Chairman of The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Singapore, received an invitation on 3rd August 2004 from the Istana to attend this important state function. The invitation marked a milestone in the recognition of our Faith and community in Singapore. The friends no doubt share in the Assembly’s great joy in this gesture shown to our Faith and community. The Universal House of Justice “was pleased to note the recognition of the Faith indicated by the invitation sent to the chairman of your Spiritual Assembly for the swearing in of the new Prime Minister of Singapore.”

On behalf of our community, the Assembly had on 5 August 2004 conveyed to the outgoing Prime Minister Mr. Goh Chok Tong our community ‘s gratitude for his years of service as Prime Minister of Singapore and our prayers for many years more of good health and happiness as he serves in new capacities. In a reply dated 10 August 2004, which he personally signed, Mr. Goh wrote, “I am heartened by your kind words and good wishes. It has been a satisfying 14 years serving my country and people. I feel blessed to be able to do so. I am grateful for your support.”…

United states:- The Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations, Bani Dugal, has received a “Women Helping Women” award from Soroptimist International. The award came in weeks leading up to International Women’s Day on March 8. “Women Helping Women” is one of three awards offered under an umbrella program, “Making a Difference for Women,” established in 1986 by the Soroptimists to acknowledge those who work to improve the status of women in society. Soroptimist International is a 70-year-old volunteer service organization for women.