Human Rights Concert in Support of BIHE students and faculty in Prison In Iran and the Campaign of "Education Under Fire" In Iran. CELLIOLA of Pomona Faculty of Music and SANTAR Ensemble performing Sept. 9,11

“Iran’s War Against Knowledge — An Open Letter to the International Academic Community”  

is the title of an open letter published by Huffington Post and written by two global leaders of peace and humanity Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town; 1984 Nobel Peace Prize recipient and President José Ramos-Horta President of East Timor 1996 Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

I must command the HUFFINGTON POST for its proactive stance for human rights and the unique role the Baha’i community plays in setting an example of creating peace and never let it go in life or death.

The open letter is part of a human rights campaign called “Education Under Fire” to liberate the cause of education from the dark web of ignorance wherever it appears. I am most encouraged by any attempt to make the cause of education universal and acknowledge everyone’s right to education as a basic human right. Our global village has a long ways to go and millions of children and youth are deprived of this basic human right. It reminds me of the proverbial story of the millions of star fish being washed ashore and dying. The act of one single person of picking one or two or three and throwing them back in the ocean might seem futile. But the thought of we making a difference to just one, gives me hope that we do good no matter how impossible the dream. Our world will change and must rise out of this dark some night one star at a time, one heart at a time, one breath at  time. I have hope!

A special website that contains various supplementary campaign materials (at www.educationunderfire.com).to support the human rights activists with their campaign to restore the rights of all people in Iran to education and knowledge.

The open letter concludes with a special line of action to be taken for desired outcome. They state:

And while we believe that both historically and in today’s “wired” world it is futile to suppress the quest for knowledge, there are many in Iran whose lives are being threatened or damaged by the attempt.

They need our support.

CELLIOLA of Pomona College Faculty of Music (Tom Flaherty, Cindy Fogg, and Rochelle Huang) perform at the Human Rights Concert on Sept. 9, 11 in Claremont in support of BIHE students and faculty imprisoned in Iran because of being of the Baha'i Faith. The concert is part of the national campaign of "EDUCATION UNDER FIRE" in Iran.

We call on the international academic community to come to the aid of those whose lives are being subjected to these oppressive laws.

Specifically we, the undersigned, ask that the international academic community:

1. Call on the government of the Iranian Republic to release unconditionally and drop charges against the BIHE educators currently under arrest and facing charges related to their educational activities.

Everyone wanted to know how and what they can do to raise awareness and make a difference about BIHE faculty and students in prison in Iran and that "Education is Under Fire" in Iran

2. As academic leaders, administrators and professors, register through any possible channels in the Iranian academic community their disagreement with and disapproval of any policy which would bar individuals from higher education based on their religious background or political persuasion, or which would remove or corrupt any established fields of study from a university curricula for religious or political reasons.

3. Encourage their own universities to review the educational quality of the BIHE coursework for possible acceptance of its credits, so that those who have had the benefit of its programs can continue at higher levels of study.

4. As possible, offer available online university level curricula, through scholarships if needed, to students in Iran who would otherwise be deprived of the right to higher education or who, due to government limitation on social sciences, would not have a full array of educational options available to them in their own county.

Thank you for your support.

And please also watch this video.

With warm regards,

Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu, O.M.S.G, D.D., F.K.C.
Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town
1984 Nobel Peace Prize recipient

President José Ramos-Horta
President of East Timor
1996 Nobel Peace Prize recipient

SANTAR Persian Mytical ensemble performing at the Human Rights Concert on Sept, 9, 11 in support of "Education Under Fire in Iran" Campaign.

We must remember that our breath is a gift to be used to make a difference for a worthy cause. Speaking in defense of defenseless BIHE is one amongst many worthy causes. Thank you for making a difference.

You can read the open letters in Farsi by refering to the  دو برندۀ جایزۀ صلح نوبل خواستار آزادی مدرّسان بهائی شدند

Keyvan