Prayers for Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran

February 11, 2010 by J-Wire Staff
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Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence participated in an Inter-faith prayer gathering at Parliament House in Sydney for the seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran.

Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence reports on the prayers…

Almighty God, we gather today, representatives of our many faiths to pray for the release of

Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi,

Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani,

Mr. Afif Naeimi,

Mr. Saeid Rezaie,

Mrs. Mahvash Sabet,

Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and

Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.

Who are being detained in Iran in violation of their fundamental rights.

We pray that they will be restored to their families; that they will be able to worship in freedom; that they will be able to celebrate their faith and inspire their fellows with the beauty and peaceful message of its teachings.

Rev Tara Curlewis, Arini Beaumaris with Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence

Almighty God of justice and mercy; it is Your teaching that we must love our neighbours as ourselves for they, too, are born in Your image.  That we may not oppress the strangers amongst us; for we have been strangers and we have known oppression.  You teach us to respect the sages and the wisdom of other traditions.

We ask You, our Lord, to look with favour upon these seven Baha’i leaders.

Grant them strength, despite the tyranny of their captivity, their seclusion in imprisonment and the secrecy imposed on their hearings.

We fear for their safety and the conditions of their incarceration.

May all those who have dealings with them in the prison and the regime, treat them with decency and respect their dignity.

We pray that Iran’s religious leaders will conduct themselves with morality, humanity and with honesty.

We call upon them and the state authorities to disavow religious prejudice; to dismiss unfounded charges and reject manufactured evidence in these proceedings.

We call upon them to conduct any trial in an open court; with transparency and with due process; with full access to lawyers and independent counsel.

We call upon them to respect the rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s 300,000 Baha’i.

We, the leaders of our communities and representatives of Australia’s faiths join with the family of these seven Baha’i leaders.

El Melech Maale Rachamim – Our God, our King, paragon of mercy; help us to live by Your teachings.  Cause our world to be ruled with justice and our hearts to be governed with compassion.  Uproot intolerance and tyranny, wherever it may be and especially when practiced in Your name.

May Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm return to their families and their workplaces unharmed.  May the persecution of their people be ended.

May this be Your will.  And let us say, Amen.

Others who attended included AIJAC and ECAJ’s Jeremy Jones together with Ian and Josie Lacey .

Comments

2 Responses to “Prayers for Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran”
  1. Gamal & Somaya Hassan says:

    The prayer of the honourable Rabbi Lawrence is a practical demonstration that “the Earth is but one country, mankind its citizens”. No words can express our thanks on behalf of the Baha’i community of Entebbe, Uganda. As we join the Baha’i world in prayers of 14 May to observe in great reverence the second year of imprisonment of the seven heroic leaders of our Baha’i brother and sisters in Iran, we defer our wishes absolutely to the Will of God.

  2. joseph says:

    Thank you Rabbi Lawrence,Your prayer was very special.The world is certainly watching this.
    Joseph Jones

    The Bahais of Ontario Canada

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