Baha’is from throughout Australia have elected the national governing council of their Faith at the Baha’i national convention being held in Sydney this weekend.
More than 90 delegates from throughout Australia cast their secret ballots in an election conducted without nominations or campaigning, in accordance with Baha’i electoral procedures.
Those elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Australia are: Ms Arini Beaumaris (Gold Coast), Mrs Fiona McDonald (East Fremantle, WA), Professor Fariborz Moshirian (Ku-ring-gai, Sydney), Dr Golshah Naghdy (Wollongong), Ms Kath Podger (Leichhardt, Sydney), Dr Vahid Saberi (Ballina, NSW), Professor Bijan Samali (Baulkham Hills, Sydney), Ms Tessa Scrine (Canberra), and Mr John Walker (Ingleside, Sydney).
Eight of the nine members served on the previous National Spiritual Assembly.
The new member is Ms Beaumaris, an educator from the Gold Coast.
The convention paid tribute to the “outstanding and devoted service” of Dr Majorie Tidman of York, Western Australia, who had resigned due to ill health after being a member since she was first elected in 1996.
Profound concern
The election was conducted amid an atmosphere of profound concern for the Baha’is in Iran.
Six leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community were summarily arrested in Iran on 14 May 2008. The seventh member of the leadership group has been detained since March this year.
The arrests have attracted condemnation worldwide.
One of those arrested is the brother of a delegate attending the national convention.
Amin’ullah Tavakoli, who lives in Campbelltown SA, said he was very worried for his brother, Behrouz Tavakkoli.
“My brother has spent all his life serving his faith and humanity,” he said.
Community building
Plenary sessions at the convention are focussing on the current systematic, grassroots process of community-building – focused on training, learning and service – that is being carried out by the Baha’is of Australia.
Discussion is continuing on the four core activities of children’s classes, devotional meetings, study circles, and programs for young teens.
The convention is being held at the Sydney Baha’i Centre in Silverwater. It will conclude on Sunday at noon.