Blogger: Baha’i Faith in Egypt
Article: New Site: The Muslim Network for Baha’i Rights
Originaly Posted On: 2007-07-01 11:05:00

A new site, still in a draft form, has just been created. It is titled “The Muslim Network for Baha’i Rights.” It’s authors are “Muslim interfaith activists who are deeply concerned with the treatment of Baha’is within the Middle East.” The authors host the well-known MIDEAST YOUTH and the ME Faith websites. In this site’s first post, it states the following:

Why this website?
June 29th, 2007 by Admin

Many of you are probably wondering why a Muslim network in defense of Baha’i rights exist. The answer is very simple - the best way to promote tolerance, human rights, religious freedom and respect is to rally for a cause that doesn’t necessarily affect you. When you strongly believe in a value, you should apply it to all people equally regardless of their faith, cultural differences, political stance or nationality. If within your country this doesn’t happen, as a loyal citizen you should actively enforce that such rights be met for the sake of a better and more productive society.

In this network, there are a few things that one should keep in mind:

. The authors are Muslim interfaith activists who are deeply concerned with the treatment of Baha’is within the Middle East.
. We don’t believe in the Baha’i faith. But there are minorities within our societies who are practicing Baha’is and for that, their rights are very rarely recognized, simply because of their religious differences.
. We created this site to demand that the rights of Baha’i minorities is recognized by not only people, but by law.
. We respectfully demand that all governments within the Arab and Muslim world allow Baha’i citizens to have equal opportunities in all fields and to practice their faith freely without facing any threats or discrimination whatsoever.
. We would like to make the general public of the region be aware of Baha’i human rights abuses in order to take effective action against it. We can only successfully achieve the goals of this website if we move our citizens towards real action, no matter what our religious differences are. We are all civilians in need of basic rights, and thus we should join forces regardless of our differences and unite in a celebration of our diversity. Join us in this worthy struggle and make our goals a greater possibility in the name of freedom.

These authors are to be recognized and appreciated for their courage, clarity of vision, audacity and intellectual honesty. They truly reflect the pure essence and nature of Islam.

On another note, this blog “Baha’i Faith in Egypt” celebrates its one year and one month anniversary. The first post, entitled “Independent Religion,” was published on 1 June 2006. One might ask: why one year and one month? the answer is quite simple: as I am not much into celebrations, it was simply forgotten to commemorate the one year anniversary, but was reminded today that this landmark had already passed, hence the anniversary is remembered now….