ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP LAUNCHED

Lembit Opik MP reports on the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'i:

Ever heard of the Baha'is? Nor had I until two years ago. But I was so impressed I've agreed to help them set up a parliamentary group.

The Baha'i faith is the world's newest independent monotheistic religion. Founded in 1844, it has about six million followers worldwide. In essence, Baha'is are humanitarians, embodying values most of us identify with: community action, loving relationships, public spirited politics, and a big dose of human rights. I'm not a Baha'i, but I have enormous respect for those who are.

One reason you may not have heard of them is because they have a policy not to evangelise. Local Baha'i branches don't go knocking on doors, which makes them less pushy than MPs. Naturally, they'll happily explain their beliefs if you show any interest, but here's a faith that doesn't shove it down your throat. Indeed, you probably know some Baha'is who haven't said because it's not come up in conversation. This is typically Baha'i. They want to live in harmony with other religions, and don't want to beat or persecute anyone.

Sadly, it doesn't work both ways, as Baha'is in Iran are finding out. Put bluntly, being a Baha'i in Iran can cost you your life. A number of Baha'is are sitting on Iran's death row, waiting for release or execution, and this has motivated the Baha'i community to look at ways to positively influence the Iranian government to think again. Others are also in the same boat. Jews have experienced similar persecution, and it looks like there may be a big benefit in working together to find a way forward.

So, in 1998, a Baha'i working in 7 Millbank asked me to sponsor an Early Day Motion protesting about the execution of one of the 350,000 or so Baha'is in Iran, explaining the Iranian Baha'i community faces constant repression and harassment. Baha'is across the UK wrote to MPs and over 200 signed the EDM.

And that's where the all party Baha'i group comes in. My staff and I worked throughout 1999 with the Baha'i community and other parliamentarians, particularly David Lepper, Peter Luff and Lord Avebury, to create an all party group that would keep the plight of the Iranian Baha'is on the political agenda. We launched it on March 21 2000 at a highly energising event with 100 guests including MPs, faith community leaders, civil servants, journalists and non-governmental organisations.

Special guest was Peter Hain, the minister at the Foreign Office with responsibility for relations with Iran. The British Foreign Office has led the world in maintaining international scrutiny of the treatment of Iran's Baha'i community. He also confirmed his continued support for practical action -and that's a huge boost to the group's work.

The Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is hope to make a positive contribution to Westminster life. As well as defending the Baha'i community in Iran, the group will promote Baha'i principles relevant to political life, such as social justice, equity and good governance.

The Hon Barnabas Leith, Secretary General of the Baha'i community of the UK, said that feedback from Iran indicated the effectiveness of pressure from foreign governments in staying the hand of the oppressor, and concluded: "This group saves lives." That's the spur for what we do next. We're considering sending a delegation to Iran, with representatives of Baha'is and other persecuted groups, to establish dialogue with the Iranian authorities.

It is possible that there really is a way to free that country's minorities, including the Baha'is, through constructive engagement. It is essential for such a delegation to work in a non-confrontational way, to help the Iranian authorities respond positively. Is this naive? I don't think so, but the one thing we desperately need is a new way to approach the issue, and this is definitely a new way.

Our launch coincided with the celebration of the "Naw-Ruz" - the New Year for Baha'is. If we are successful in our goals, perhaps it won't be too long before the Baha'is in Iran can join in these celebrations.

(Excerpts from letter published in "House Magazine", April 24, 2000, reprinted with permission)