BAHÁ'ÍS STRESS VALUE OF WOMEN'S EQUALITY

OMAGH Library was the venue on Thursday last for an event celebrating the martyrdom of Persian poet and women's rights promoter, 'Tahirih' (The Pure One). The event was organized by members of the Omagh Bahá'i Community.

Tahirih was put to death in 1852, and is reputed to have said to her executioners: "You can kill me, but you will never prevent the emancipation of women".

The subject of the evening was introduced by Mrs. Hazel Holmlund, a Bahá'i from Ballymena, who gave a brief resume of Tahirih's life. "Tahirih had become convinced of the dawn of a new age when there would be equality between women and men. She was a woman before her time, a free spirit in an oppressive age," she said.

Two of Tahirih's poems were read by Lady Rosemary Salisbury and Mr. Eric Bullick, who are principals of Drumragh Integrated College and Omagh Integrated Primary School respectively.

A dramatic dialogue between Mr. Jim Holmlund (Ballymena) and Miss Judith George (Coleraine), was performed, and live music was provided by Bahá'i youth Soha Graham, from Craigavon (violin) and Andalfb Gornall, from Magherafelt (piano). The chairman of the meeting, Mr. Rustam Jamshidi, closed the programme by stressing the importance of gender equality and its wider implications, beyond mere matters of justice and fairness.

He commented: "Only as women are welcomed into full partnership, in all fields of human endeavour, will the moral and psychological climate be created in which international peace can emerge."

The meeting was attended by Bahá'is and their friends from all parts