2008 Woodie Awards
Bahá'í students fight for equality
Aya Khalil
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: News
Modarai thinks it has a chance of working in this situation as well.
"If the international community puts pressure on Iran to change their policy," Modarai said, "[then] I have faith we can make a difference."
The resolution from the group wants Faculty Senate to criticize what is going on in Iran and to recognize that this is a violation of human rights.
The group wants this "denunciation in letters" to be distributed to the U.N. and the U.S. representative for Iran.
"[Faculty Senate] believe in higher learning for everyone," Modarai said. "It's their job to listen to the students."
The resolution was accepted Tuesday, and Faculty Senate will make a couple of revisions to the resolution before sending it out.
"I'm just really happy that everything worked out," Modarai said. "It reflects really well on the Faculty Senate that they care enough to take on this issue."
"We will wait to see what happens [next]," she said.
The Iranian government denied higher education to Bahá'ís because it feels the group is a "threat," Modarai said.
"They oppress them in hopes that they won't practice their faith," Modarai said.
This year, 800 of the 1,050 Bahá'í who sat for an entrance exam did not receive their results, Modarai said.
"I hope to see enough outside pressure so it can eventually change for the better," Modarai said.
Modarai's father is from Iran, and she said it has often been unsafe for the Bahá'ís over there.
"There are many Bahá'ís in the United States that have left Iran in order to escape persecution and find a better life," she said.
There are about four Bahá'ís on campus, and they hold interfaith prayers on Friday and support events that local Bahá'ís are doing, Modarai said. There are about 20 Bahá'ís in Toledo.
"If the international community puts pressure on Iran to change their policy," Modarai said, "[then] I have faith we can make a difference."
The resolution from the group wants Faculty Senate to criticize what is going on in Iran and to recognize that this is a violation of human rights.
The group wants this "denunciation in letters" to be distributed to the U.N. and the U.S. representative for Iran.
"[Faculty Senate] believe in higher learning for everyone," Modarai said. "It's their job to listen to the students."
The resolution was accepted Tuesday, and Faculty Senate will make a couple of revisions to the resolution before sending it out.
"I'm just really happy that everything worked out," Modarai said. "It reflects really well on the Faculty Senate that they care enough to take on this issue."
"We will wait to see what happens [next]," she said.
The Iranian government denied higher education to Bahá'ís because it feels the group is a "threat," Modarai said.
"They oppress them in hopes that they won't practice their faith," Modarai said.
This year, 800 of the 1,050 Bahá'í who sat for an entrance exam did not receive their results, Modarai said.
"I hope to see enough outside pressure so it can eventually change for the better," Modarai said.
Modarai's father is from Iran, and she said it has often been unsafe for the Bahá'ís over there.
"There are many Bahá'ís in the United States that have left Iran in order to escape persecution and find a better life," she said.
There are about four Bahá'ís on campus, and they hold interfaith prayers on Friday and support events that local Bahá'ís are doing, Modarai said. There are about 20 Bahá'ís in Toledo.
Be the first to comment on this story