In an article recently published in “Embassy: Canada’s Foreign Policy Newsweekly”, Roger Blockley—former Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Carleton University—appeals to the academic community to speak up against the denial of access to education for the Baha’is in Iran.
To read the full article click here or see the attached document below.
Dr. Blockley points out in the article that Carleton University was the first Canadian university to accept graduates of the Baha’i Institute of Higher Education (BIHE)—an informal initiative established by the Iranian Baha’i academic community to teach young Baha’is barred from university.
“Classes [at the BIHE] were given by correspondence, in private homes, basements, rented facilities, and, more recently, online. Faculty and students often travelled hundreds of kilometers at their own expense to attend classes”, writes Dr. Blockley.
In total, 36 students were admitted to degree programs at Carleton University, beginning in 1998. Dr. Blockley commented that these were “the strongest cadre of international students at the university.”
Other Canadian universities that admitted BIHE students were the University of Ottawa, Queen’s and McGill. Of the 67 students admitted, “64 graduated, and many went on to doctorates”.
After their studies in Canada, many of these students chose to return to their home country to contribute to the development of Iran. However, their degrees were not recognized by the Government of Iran and many were imprisoned on false charges.
Baha’is as well as other “ordinary Iranians”, says Dr. Blockley, “are decent, friendly, open-minded and civil people. Neither they nor the Iranian people deserve the current regime … masquerading as a theocracy. Nor does Iran deserve to be deprived of the skills and commitment that the Baha’is can contribute.”
Condemning Iranian universities for supporting the state-orchestrated policy against the Baha’is, Dr. Brockley ends his article by pointing out that it is the duty of the Canadian academic community to put pressure on their Iranian colleagues.
“Canadian university presidents should approach their national and international organizations with a view to sanctioning Iranian universities until they accord Baha’i students equal treatment.”
“The international academic community can be more assertive in defending the rights of the Baha’is to education.”
“It has the tools. It is time to use them.”