wfn.org | BWNS -- Baha'is honor champion of human rights

[Baha'i World News Service <bwns@bwc.org>]

Baha'i World News Service
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Baha'is honor champion of human rights
LONDON, 3 January 2006 (BWNS) -- A former British parliamentarian,
Sidney Chapman, received the inaugural Blomfield Award for Human Rights
at a ceremony organised by the United Kingdom Baha'i community's
national governing council and the Barnet Baha'i community.

The Baha'is of the United Kingdom have established the	Blomfield Award
-- named after Lady Blomfield, a prominent early British Baha'i -- to
present to individuals in British public life who have offered
consistent and exceptional support towards the defence of Baha'is in
countries where they are persecuted for their religious faith, notably
in Iran.

At the ceremony held in Barnet, North London, on 6 December 2005, Baha'i
spokesman, the Hon. Barney Leith, praised the efforts of Sir Sidney to
speak out for the Baha'is in Iran.

"Sir Sidney repeatedly defended the human rights of the Baha'is by
tabling Parliamentary questions and motions and speaking in debates,"
said Mr. Leith, secretary for external affairs of the United Kingdom
Baha'i community.

In reply, Sir Sidney spoke of his admiration for the Baha'i community.
"I should like to thank the Baha'is, not only the 6,000 here in the UK,
but the five to six million Baha'is around the world, for all that you
do to promote human unity," he said.

Sir Sidney said that he attached great importance to the struggle for
human rights and to efforts to reduce the damage to the earth's natural
environment.

Sir Sidney admired the artistic design of the award itself, which was
conceived and crafted by Switzerland-based artist Myriam Bargetze. Ms.
Bargetze used a quotation from the Baha'i writings as her inspiration
for the alabaster and turquoise piece: "Regard man as a mine rich in
gems of inestimable value."

Barnet Deputy Mayor, Victor Lyon, and the Deputy Mayoress attended the
ceremony, representing the borough.

A musical group, Gye Nyame, performed a Baha'i prayer set to their own
choral melodies.

Sir Sidney retired from Parliament in 2005 having served the people of
Barnet since 1979. Members of the Barnet Baha'i community also honoured
Sir Sidney, presenting him with a commemorative certificate to mark his
retirement from public life.

Closing the ceremony Dr. Kishan Manocha, secretary of the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, said the
Baha'is had gathered to acknowledge Sir Sydney's contribution and to
honor him.

"There should be no doubt that Sir Sidney's distinguished record of
defending the Iranian Baha'is is of great value in the ongoing efforts
to emancipate that community," Dr. Manocha said.