Women all over the world are considered as less than a men even in majority of cases by the women themselves. Much education and research is needed before the women of our world who are the first educators of the next generation will rise and claim their rightful and serious role in forwarding the flight of the bird of human progress and civilization. The education of girls therefore needs all parents full attention.
The Bahaí community of Iran has been a leading community in the material as well as spiritual education of children especially the girls. As a result of this forward thinking attitude, the Bahaí community of Iran within its short 160 years history has produced both women and men of excellence in character and intellect.
Women have equal rights with men upon earth; in religion and society they are a very important element. As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.
(Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 133)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (L) and first lady Michelle Obama (R) share a moment during the fourth annual Award for International Women of Courage ceremony at the State Department March 10, 2010 in Washington, DC. The award was to pay tribute to outstanding women leaders worldwide. Ten women were presented with the award this year. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
On March 10, 2010 Secretary Clinton announced the winners of the 2010 International women of courage award. It is an honor that amongst these brave women, there is an Iranian women. Iran being the birth place of Tahirih; the first woman who announced the emancipation of women and making the women’s right the subject of human rights and equality must be leading the global campaign of equal rights for women and men.
Secretary of States Clinton acknowledges that the issue of women’s rights is human rights. On the U.S. Department of State official Blog (DIPNOTE) you can watch live March 10 International Women of Courage Awards … more »
Also bellow is some excerpts from a news article in Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID)about the International Women of Courage Award for your further read:
Shadi Sadr, a renowned Iranian human rights lawyer, women’s rights activist and member of Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) – International Solidarity Network Council, has been awarded the International Women of Courage Award 2010. Ms. Sadr was also the recipient of the Lech Walesa and the Dutch “Human Rights Tulip” awards in 2009.
In light of the critical situation for human rights defenders in Iran since the disputed presidential elections in June 2009, Shadi Sadr is taking the extraordinary step of dedicating her Women of Courage Award to Shiva Nazar Ahari… Shiva Nazar Ahari is a dedicated women’s rights activist, and founder of the highly influential and respected student Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR) in Iran, who is currently being held at Evin prison in Tehran. Shadi Sadr’s decision not to attend the awards ceremony is an urgent act of solidarity with all the women and men – many of whom are her colleagues – who have been targeted in mass arrests by the government because of their defense of human rights. From among these activists, Shadi Sadr has named Shiva Nazar Ahari, who has been held in Evin prison for seven months in total and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment by the Iranian authorities.
You can also read the complete text of Shadi Sadr’s speech by following the same link to the WLUML website.
Unfortunately the Bahaí community of Iran, this peace loving and persevering community has been like a bird in the hand of an ignorant and blood thirsty hunter who takes great joy in abusing while laughing at its innocent and defenseless prey! The defender of the Bahaí community of Iran throughout its short history has been no one but Divine assistance. Many Bahaís including the seven previous leaders of the Bahaí community of Iran are still in prison. The two are Faribal Kamal-abadi and Mahvash Sabet and are exceptionally courageous and long suffering women. They have no platform for their exceptional gifts of spirit and contributions of thought and service which is about the very medicine that frees humanity from the bondage of inhumanity and human right violations.
I hope those of us who are free can take their voice and echo it to every soul who is alive until all humanity, women as well as men become liberated and free.
Keyvan
