wfn.org | BWNS -- British Prime Minister praises Bah=E1'=ED community

[Bahá'í World News Service <bwns@bwc.org>]

Baha'i World News Service
See story and photographs on BWNS site at http://news.bahai.org
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British Prime Minister praises Bahá'í community
LONDON, United Kingdom, 7 April 2005 (BWNS) -- The prime minister of the
United Kingdom, Tony Blair, has praised the work of the nation's Baha'i
community in assisting social cohesion and the interfaith movement.

"In many ways, Baha'is embody the spirit of community cohesion that is
so important to our society," Mr. Blair said in a message on the
occasion of the Baha'i Naw-Ruz (New Year).

"The Baha'i community, in its outlook on life and in its proactive work
in the inter-faith, cohesion and anti-discrimination fields, show how
much faith-based bodies can contribute to wider society, and the
Government looks forward to continuing our good relationship," Mr. Blair
said.

The message was read at the Naw-Ruz reception held on 21 March 2005 on
the terrace of the House of Commons. Baha'i representatives, members of
both Houses of Parliament, and senior members of the public service
attended the event.

The All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'i Faith sponsored the
gathering, which was also attended by representatives of interfaith
organizations, NGOs, and the media.

The chair of the All Party Friends of the Baha'i Faith, Lembit Opik  MP,
spoke of his admiration for the work of the Baha'is.

The secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the
United Kingdom, Barney Leith, thanked the All Party Friends of the
Baha'i Faith for defending the human rights of the Baha'is in Iran and
for keeping the government of the United Kingdom informed of the
situation.

"Sadly, the situation of the Baha'is in Iran is deteriorating at the
moment. This makes the work of the All Party Friends of the Baha'is even
more vital," Mr. Leith said.

The All Party Friends of the Baha'i Faith was formed in 1999 and has
since hosted five Naw-Ruz receptions. The group is open to members of
Parliament from across the political spectrum and was formed largely in
response to the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran and other states.

Entertainer Inder Manocha, a Baha'i who was named best comedian in last
year's Ethnic Multicultural Media Achievement Awards, was master of
ceremonies for the gathering.

Baha'i communities throughout the world celebrate their new year, marked
by the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, between sunset on 20
March 2005 and sunset on the 21st.

Known as "Naw-Ruz," the festival has been celebrated in Iran from time
immemorial, and was confirmed by Baha'u'llah as a holy day. It coincides
with the first day of the first month of the year in the Baha'i
calendar.