Canada: Whether Iranians living in Canada are prohibited by The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada from converting to the Baha'i faith and, if so, whether they are allowed to attend Baha'i religious ceremonies/rituals in Canada
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 25 January 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CAN33607.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Canada: Whether Iranians living in Canada are prohibited by The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada from converting to the Baha'i faith and, if so, whether they are allowed to attend Baha'i religious ceremonies/rituals in Canada , 25 January 2000, CAN33607.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad4e54.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
During January 2000 telephone interviews, the Manager of the Department of Records for the Baha'is of Canada stated that Iranians present in Canada are able to convert to the Baha'i faith (18 and 20 Jan. 2000). However, he stated that it can be a long process, which can take up to two years. He said that before accepting an Iranian who wants to convert as a member of The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada, the applicant must first be investigated to determine why they are interested in converting. An Iranian person's desire to convert is not accepted without a recommendation from Baha'i representatives in Iran. While not providing details of the Assembly's investigation, the Manager of the Department of Records said that the Assembly first determines whether the person is from a Baha'i family in Iran. If this is not the case, the Assembly must then be satisfied that the person's desire to convert is genuine before accepting them as a member of the Baha'i faith.
During the period under which the Iranian person is under investigation, they are able to attend Baha'i activities that are open to the public, but they are not allowed to attend Baha'i religious services, nor administrative activities. For example, the Manager of the Department of Records said that every 19 days there is what is known as the "19 day feast," which is constituted by three sections: devotions, administrative activities, and a social event. He said that non-Baha'is, including potential Iranian converts under investigation, are not permitted to participate in the feast. However, he said that public Baha'i activities are open to non-members. He said that Baha'i worship services are not the same as many Christian services in Canada in which persons that are not of that particular faith are often permitted to attend.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Manager, Department of Records, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada, Thornhill, Ont. 18 and 20 January 2000. Telephone interviews.
