October 4, 2013

A Petition for UN’s Proclamation the “International Day of Freedom of Conscience and Religion”

Your Excellency:

We, the undersigned, have been authorized by World Cultural Heritage Voices to respectfully urge your Excellency to call on the appropriate organization of the United Nations to designate 29 of October as “International Day of Freedom of Conscience and Religion.” The World Cultural Heritage Voices is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the cultural heritage of each member of the international community, particularly those that have been ravaged by scourges of wars, sectarian violence, poverty and unrepresentative governments.

In the last few decades the world has witnessed widespread eruptions of violent ideological and sectarian conflicts within a number of societies.  Such conflicts have, among other things, led to the rise of organized attempts to desecrate or otherwise destroy national, cultural and religious heritage of particular historical value to the community of nations. Such attempts often take place in societies where respect for individual’s freedom of conscience and religion has not yet been fully recognized as an essential principle of human rights.

Your Excellency:          

It is upon these premises that we believe the designation of a day for celebrating the freedom of conscience and religion on the UN calendar will further signify the importance of respect for cultural and religious diversity which is the cornerstone of peaceful coexistence of peoples all over the world.

We further believe that 29 of October is an appropriate date for celebration of this freedom, for it was on this date that Cyrus the Great issued his historic decree on religious freedom and tolerance more than 2500 years ago. More importantly, Cyrus followed his decree on tolerance, diversity of cultures and freedom of worship by deeds that included delivering the enslaved Jews in Babylon. This decree has therefore been considered by many as the earliest expression of the recognition of a fundamental human freedom. The permanent exhibition of the decree at the entrance to the chamber of the Security Council of UN bespeaks of the universal recognition of its importance.

This year, the twenty-ninth day of October 2013, coincides with the ninth annual celebration of “Cyrus the Great Day” by Iranian people and many friends of culture across the globe. In 2005, it was the Pasargad Heritage Foundation- the first international NGO for preservation of the cultural heritage of Iran- that introduced the idea. At the time, Cyrus’ mausoleum in Iran- a monument registered on the UNESCO’s world heritage list – was in danger of being inundated and eventually destroyed. However, the hard work of this Foundation and timely intervention of UNESCO, human rights activists and organizations removed the danger and led to a world-wide recognition of Cyrus’ seminal contribution to the survival of our common human civilization. Such recognition has been further evidenced by the exhibition of Cyrus cylinder in a number of museums in major cities in United States of America. 

Your Excellency:

At a time when, in a number of regions of the world, particularly in Africa and Asia, the basic rights and freedoms of millions of individuals have been curtailed, disregarded and violently denied by undemocratic and illegitimate governments, setting aside a day of celebration for freedoms of conscience and religion by the Parliament of Mankind will be of great and lasting importance.  Such a measure would also constitute another vivid warning to political leaders of countries whose prisons are filled with prisoners of religion, conscience and belief.

Nevertheless, millions of people are still afraid of freely announcing their beliefs. Without any doubt, creating a special day for Freedom of Conscience and Religion would help the advancement of human rights.

Fully cognizant of your Excellency’s abiding respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of all peoples of the world, we are looking forward to receiving a favorable response to our plea. 

Respectfully Yours,

Shokooh Mirzadegi

Founder and Executive Director

Farid Hekmat