Model U.N. reviews religious persecution, right to religion

Representatives from around the world gathered Saturday on campus to discuss world policies.

The United Nations Student Association hosted the second annual University Model United Nations at the Law School.

About 15 participants took turns raising their placards and making motions on behalf of nations of their choosing to help create a mock resolution regarding the assembly's theme: religious persecution and the right to religion.

United Nations Student Association President Amie Shindelar said the right to religion is something the organization was eager to talk about.

"It is something that hadn't been discussed at other conferences," she said.

The keynote speech of the event focused on the religious persecution of members of the Bahá'í religion in Iran.

Iranian-born Roya Akhavan-Majid, chairwoman of the mass communications department at St. Cloud State University, delivered the speech highlighting the group's history, beliefs and trials it has faced in Iran.

She explained that Bahá'ís believe in the divine origin of all religions, that is to say that God has spoken to mankind through prophets from all major religions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Bahá'ís also believe in world peace, the equality of men and women, a harmony of science and religion, among other things.

Majid said Bahá'ís have been subjected to governmental persecution and discrimination in Iran since the religion's founding in the mid-1800s, and that the problems might be resurging.

"During the last few months, there have been new and ominous signs the persecution is going to intensify again," she said.

According to a report from the United Nations on freedom of religion and belief, a document from Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calls for an increase in government surveillance of Bahá'ís and their activities in Iran.

Majid said that because Bahá'ís are against confrontation, they must utilize politics and policy to create change in Iran.

"The only thing Bahá'ís can count on is international opinion," she said.

Majid said she was glad to see students taking on the issue of religious rights.

"It's the topic of our time," she said.

Shindelar said Model United Nations ties together many elements of education.

"This is a way to take lessons you've learned in a classroom about international relations theory and be able to apply it in a more realistic setting," she said.

First-year student Mayuri Garikepati said the event was a way to find out more about international opinions of religious freedom.

She represented Iraq in the assembly but said she wanted to represent Iran in light of the day's keynote speech.

Finance sophomore Zikiria Chaudhary said he was interested in finding out more about how the United Nations works.

Chaudhary, who represented Japan at the event, said he was excited to learn what goes into drafting a resolution and "what takes so long to get it done."