4/9/25

Joining the Network on Conservation and Religion

3 November 1987 

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

JOYFULLY ANNOUNCE THAT DURING OCTOBER BAHÁ’I FAITH BECAME SIXTH WORLD RELIGION TO JOIN THE NETWORK ON CONSERVATION AND RELIGION WHICH WAS FORMED SEPTEMBER 1986 AT EVENT IN ASSISI, ITALY, TO MARK 25TH ANNIVERSARY FOUNDING WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF) WHICH IS WORLDS LARGEST PRIVATE NATURE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION. BAHÁ’IS WERE INVOIVED IN SERIES OF RELATED EVENTS BETWEEN 3-5 OCTOBER 1987. AMONG THESE WAS CEREMONY IN WINCHESTER, ENGLAND, IN WHICH BAHÁ‘I INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ISSUED OFFICIAL BAHÁ‘I STATEMENT ON NATURE AND FORMALLY ENTERED NETWORK, SIGNALING NEW LEVEL COLLABORATION BETWEEN BAHÁ‘I COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTEREST GROUPS. BBC WORLD SERVICE BROADCAST NEWS THIS DEVELOPMENT SEVERAL TIMES. HIGHLIGHT THESE EVENTS WAS SPECIAL MEETING 5 OCTOBER IN GLAND, SWITZERLAND, WORLD HEADQUARTERS WWE, WHEN HRH THE PRINCE PHILIP DUKE OF EDINBURGH, PRESIDENT OF WWF, RECEIVED COPY BAHÁ‘I STATEMENT ON NATURE FROM AMATUL-BAHÁ RÚHÍYYIH KHÁNUM WHO HEADED BAHÁ‘I DELEGATION TO MEETING. PRINCE PHILIP RESPONDED WITH PARTICULAR INTEREST TO COMMENTS BY AMATUL-BAHÁ RÚHÍYYIH KHÁNUM ON IMPORTANCE OF INVOLVING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CONSERVATION AT VILLAGE LEVEL.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

(‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001’)

4/4/25

Further Information on Baha’is Arrested in Iran

30 October 1987 

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

RE OUR MESSAGE OF 21 OCTOBER ANNOUNCING ARREST OF SIX BAHÁ'IS IRAN, WE NOW HAVE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.

FIVE OF THE SIX HAVE BEEN FOUND EVIN PRISON. THEY HAVE BEEN VISITED BY FRIENDS AND APPEAR TO BE WELL

WE HAVE LEARNED THAT MRS. RUZÍTÁ SAMANDARÍ HAD NOT ACTUALLY BEEN ARRESTED. ANOTHER BAHÁ'I WOMAN, A RELATIVE OF ONE PRISONER, WAS ARRESTED SHORTLY AFTER ARREST FIVE MEN AND SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED.

FATE FORMER MEMBERS NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY GREATLY FEARED AS INDICATED OUR PREVIOUS MESSAGE.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

(’Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001’)