In a story on page 2 of the newsletter, delegates who voted for the National Spiritual Assembly describe how the special election system and discussion methods were highlights of the national convention where the ballot took place.
The newsletter publishes the messages from the Prime Minister, the Hon. Tony Abbott MP, and the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, on the occasion of Ridvan, the holiest of Baha’i Festivals, a time marked by a reception attended by representatives of the two leaders together with other guests in Canberra.
The centre spread of the publication covers events held to mark the seventh anniversary of the unjust imprisonment in Iran of seven Baha’i leaders, who remain in jail despite an outpouring of protest from the United Nations and governments around the world, including Australia’s. Another story about the persecution of the Baha’is of Iran appears on the back page of the newsletter. It quotes a Dubbo businessman whose father-in-law’s business is one of many that have been closed by the authorities because the owners are Baha’is.
There are two accounts of major public occasions when Baha’is were invited to read from the Baha’i sacred writings, one being the inaugural Parliamentary prayer breakfast in Canberra, and the other a multi-faith gathering in the presence of the Dalai Lama in Brisbane. The newsletter publishes in full the Baha’i prayer for unity read at the latter event.
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