To: Tufts University Administration
Tufts: Accept Credits From Baha'i University in Iran
We, the undersigned,
Ask Tufts University administrators to join the rest of the international academic community in voicing their concern over the Iranian government's denial of the right to education to young Baha'is.
Request that Tufts University join over 60 universities around the world in accepting credits from the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education.
Ask Tufts University administrators to join the rest of the international academic community in voicing their concern over the Iranian government's denial of the right to education to young Baha'is.
Request that Tufts University join over 60 universities around the world in accepting credits from the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education.
Why is this important?
The Baha'i Community of Iran, the largest religious minority of that country, has been undergoing persecution from the government for many years now. A plethora of methods have been used by the government of Iran in pursuance of their goals, including arbitrary arrest, unlawful trials, executions, confiscation of land, businesses, pensions, etc. The most recent of these has been the denial of the right to education to young Baha'is. Specifically, they are barred from universities simply because of their religious beliefs, and when they tried to initiate their own educational programs, they are attacked. This past May, the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE)--a community sponsored institution that sought to offer an education to the young Baha'is who were otherwise denied entry into a university---was the latest victim. Professors and administrators have been incarcerated, material has been confiscated, and the institution has been closed. Their crime? To educate deprived youth who long for an education. Wouldn't we all be guilty?
We at Tufts, who are enjoying this inalienable right, would do well to join the growing international academic community---students, professors, administrators---who have voiced their opposition to such injustice and are working to stop this oppression. We invite you to sign this petition so that Tufts University will join the many universities in the US and around the world who have voiced their concern and have taken the concrete steps of accepting BIHE credits so that those BIHE students who were not able to finish their education can have an opportunity to apply to Tufts to continue their academic careers.
We at Tufts, who are enjoying this inalienable right, would do well to join the growing international academic community---students, professors, administrators---who have voiced their opposition to such injustice and are working to stop this oppression. We invite you to sign this petition so that Tufts University will join the many universities in the US and around the world who have voiced their concern and have taken the concrete steps of accepting BIHE credits so that those BIHE students who were not able to finish their education can have an opportunity to apply to Tufts to continue their academic careers.