Religious Freedom

Prayers Requested for Prisoners in Iran

Quote from Baha'u'llah The Bahá’ís of Arlington invite you to join them for prayers on behalf of the seven Bahá’ís facing trial in Iran. Please check this site for updates of prayer sessions, or contact us if you have any questions.

There will be gatherings in Alexandria and Arlington open to the public. On Tuesday February 17 at 7:30pm there will be a gathering in Rosslyn. Then on Wednesday February 18 at 7:30pm there will be a gathering at the Alexandria Bahá’í Center located at 5400-B Eisenhower Ave in Alexandria Virginia. In addition a Bahá’í from Arlington will be moderating a “Call-In and Pray” conference call on Monday February 16 and Tuesday February 17 from 8pm-8:30pm. To join in this conference prayer call please dial 641.715.3300 and enter extension 871857.

The situation is urgent, but the persecution in Iran has been occurring since the Bahá’í Faith began. Over one hundred years ago, as a prisoner of the Ottoman empire in Acre, in what is present day Israel, Bahá’u’lláh wrote:

“We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem Us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment…. That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled — what harm is there in this?”

Unfortunately over a century later, the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran is still dire. They are still being persecuted for believing in this message of brotherly love and unity. Please join us as we pray for the safety of these innocent believers and for the exercise of religious freedom in Iran.

Prayers for Religious Freedom

Deeply concerned about the plight of their Bahá’í brothers and sisters in Iran, the Arlington Bahá’í Community invites you to gather for a planned series of prayer meetings and conference calls.

We invite friends of all faith backgrounds to come together and pray with us. We will pray for protection and healing, for understanding and love, for compassion and justice. On Valentine’s Day, when so many are talking about love, let us call to mind the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh:

“I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love.”

Please contact us for more information.

For the most timely and up-to-date information regarding the plight of the Bahá’í in Iran please visit iran.bahai.us.