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Author: Greg Kintz

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The imprisoned Baha'i leaders are, top from left, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Mahvash Sabet; bottom from left, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Saeid Rezaie and Afif Naeimi.

For five years, seven Baha'i leaders have been wrongly imprisoned in Iran. Today, May 14th, marks the anniversary of their 20-year sentences, which are the longest given to any current prisoners of conscience in Iran. The harshness of their sentences reflects the Government’s resolve to oppress completely the Iranian Baha'i community, which faces a systematic, “cradle-to-grave” persecution that is among the most serious examples of state-sponsored religious persecution in the world today.

Baha'i communities around the world have launched a campaign calling for the immediate release of these seven – and the release of all innocent prisoners of conscience in Iranian prisons. The campaign is called, “Five Years Too Many.”

The US Bahá’i community has initiated a Congressional Call-In Day today, to gather support for Senate Resolution 75 and House Resolution 109, both of which, “condemn the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.”

The charges leveled against the seven Baha’i leaders reflect the depth of animosity and prejudice directed towards them — as well as a degree of ignorance regarding the basic principles and history of the Baha’i Faith.

Despite the overwhelming evidence that the Baha’i community in Iran is being persecuted solely because of its religious beliefs, the Iranian government continues – in both public and private forums – to justify its behavior with unsubstantiated accusations.

Specifically in the case of the seven Iranian Baha’i leaders, there was never any evidence presented to support the charges.

Information on the Congressional Call-In Day today to gather support for Senate Resolution 75 and House Resolution 109, condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority is available on the web at iran.bahai.us.

Below are  links on the campaign to call for the release of the Bahá'ís in Iran that have been unjustly sentenced to 20 years in prison, of which they have already served five years, “Five Years Too Many”!

LINKS

Five Years Too Many for information about the Five Years Too Many campaign and details about the effort to gain their release, and background about who these wonderful people are.

Congressional Call-In Day, for information about the campaign to call US Senators and Representatives to ask them to support either Senate Resolution 75 or House Resolution 109, condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority.

VIDEOS
Five Years Too Many, - 3:30 video about the imprisoned leaders.

Five Years Too Many - Hands: 1:41 video showing support for the Baha'is in prison in Iran.

Five Years Too Many Special Event (part 1), held at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace hosted by Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute from the TV series, The Office).

Five Years Too Many Special Event (part 2)

 

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Radio Bahá'í did four live remote broadcasts from three events in our broadcast area, on Saturday, April 20th, in Conway, Hartsville and Florence, South Carolina.

Reading by the river as part of the River Read Festival at the Conway Waterfront Park.

First up, Greg Kintz was at the River Read Festival in Conway, where he did two live interviews, one with event organizer, Conway City Councilwoman Barbara Blain-Olds, and the other with renowned low-country artist Jonathan Green. The River Read Festival included a character parade, mass reading of a book, a poetry slam, lots of vendors, a children's corner that included books being read by area celebrities (including Conway's own first responders), and much more.

Bhakti Larry Hough and the children's drum circle at the Earth Celebration in Hartsville, SC.

A little later, Bhakti Larry Hough was live from the Earth Day Celebration in Hartsville, SC, where he interviewed Mal Hyman, co-director of the event and professor at Coker College. The College sponsored this annual Earth Day Celebration at Kalmia Gardens.  Activities included music, art, canoeing, environmental displays, discussions with professors, crafts and games for kids and presentations on falconry, beekeeping and sustainable agriculture. Bhakti also participated in a drumming circle as part of the event.

Sherri picks free organic tomato plants offered by organic farmer Azziz Mustafa.

And finally, Bhakti drove to Florence where he did a live remote broadcast from the Annual Health Fair at The Steps and Stops Holistic Center at Cumberland United Methodist Church in Florence, interviewing the event organizer, Reverend Anthony Hodge. The second annual health fair promoted healthy living, with an emphasis on healthy eating. Azziz Mustafa, a Sumter organic farmer was the featured presenter. He spoke of the need for a sense of urgency about searching out healthy foods and/or growing some of one’s own food to avoid chronic illnesses brought on by diets heavy in processed foods or those grown with chemicals of various kinds. Massages and blood pressure checks and other health screenings were also offered at the health fair.

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Published on 3 Comments on Who Was Singing That Song?

So, you're driving along listening to some great music on Radio Baha'i, and you realize that the last song was something you want to buy, but the announcer gave the song title and artist before the song played and you don't remember what she said. How do you find out the title and song now?

We finally have a solution to this problem for you. You can go to our website and click on the Playing Now menu and see what is currently playing, what's coming up, and most importantly, what's played over the last hour.

For the inevitable follow-up question -- what about streaming? We are still working on it. We'll let you know as soon as that is a reality.

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Thursday, Feb. 28th, listen to a Black History Month special: a radio play performed by the Village Voices -- children from Plantersville Elementary School in Georgetown County. The play, If Anybody Ask You Who I Am, was written by Roosevelt Wright, Jr. Don’t miss these wonderful children exploring their identity.

The production of this play was directed by Mrs. Gladys Bonds McKoy and Queen D. Funnye. It was produced by DeShantell Singleton (who was featured on Insight a few months ago)

If Anybody Ask You Who I Am will be aired on Thursday, Feb. 28th, at 10:00 AM, 7:00 PM, and midnight, on 90.9 FM, Radio Baha’i.

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Joseph McGill early in the morning at Sotterly Plantation. Click on the photo to see the video.

Joseph McGill, Jr., a native of Kingstree now living in the Charleston area, eats, breathes and sleeps African American history - literally. McGill is the founder of the nearly three-year-old Slave Dwelling Project, during which he has slept in 38 former slave cabins in 12 states to draw attention to the existence of the structures and to pay tribute to his enslaved ancestors. In March, McGill will sleep in a former slave dwelling at Hopsewee Plantation in Georgetown County. Bhakti Larry Hough interviews McGill about the Slave Dwelling Project on the current African American History Month special edition of Insight.

The slave dwelling at the Sotterly Planation. Click on the photo to see the video.

Here are some links to more information about the Slave Dwelling Project:

PreservationNation Blog

 

Lowcountry Africana

This edition will air Monday, 2/18, at 10:00 AM, 7:00 PM, and midnight on 90.9 FM, Radio Baha'i.

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