An evening in support of Human Rights in Iran

Over the past few years an increasing number of activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens have been arbitrarily detained, sentenced, and even executed. The domestic unrest has been used as a pretext by the Iranian government to commit human rights abuses. Baha’is, Iran’s largest religious minority, have come under increased targeting.

Seven Baha’i leaders have been unlawfully detained since May 2008.  Since the 1979 Revolution, over 200 Baha’is have been executed. Thousands more have been arrested, dismissed from their jobs, or had their possessions and homes confiscated. Baha’i youth are barred from higher education.  Baha’is cannot hold government jobs. 
 
The emancipation of the Baha’is is also about the emancipation of Iran.
It is about emancipation from hatred, ignorance, and violence.
 
Please join us for an evening co-sponsored by Columbia University’s Center for the Study of Human Rights and the Bahá’ís of NYC in commemoration of the second year anniversary of the imprisonment of the seven Baha’i leaders.

Featured Guest Speakers:

Rudi Bakhtiar: Former CNN & Fox News Anchor, Current Director of Public Relations at the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) and Communications Director for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.
 
Roxana Saberi: Iranian-American Journalist who was recently released from Evin prison where she was prison mates with Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, two of the seven Baha’i leaders.
 
Sarah Leah Whitson: Director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division.
 
Bani Dugal: Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations.
 
Featuring a dramatic reading of selected scenes from the upcoming film on Mona Mahmudizhad by Oscar-nominated Shohreh Aqdashloo and an ensemble cast, as directed by Shidan Majidi of Cameron Mackintosh (Producer of such shows as Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins, Les Miserables).

When:

Friday,  April 2nd, 2010 at 7:30 pm

Where:

This event is free & open to the public.
Please invite your friends!