Vigil honors victims of persecution

Throughout the week, the Religious Awareness and Diversity club promoted religious diversity with other events including panel discussions and choir performances.

Last night's event, which took place at 9 p.m. on the UA Mall's main stage, began with readings from the Baha'i faith.

Participants listed on paper slips three of their most valued objects, goals and people, and were later asked to part with each as an act of sacrifice.

"Think that all we put in there and more was sacrificed by our martyrs," said Liz Ngo, a bilingual education senior.

The Baha'i group that sponsored the memorial said its purpose was to honor casualties of religious oppression.

Martha Yazdani, an international studies junior, said followers of the Baha'i faith are persecuted for their beliefs in Iran.

They risk imprisonment if they discuss their faith, she said.

More than 40,000 Muslims have died at the hands of the Serbs, said Muhammed As'Ad, a history graduate student.

"That someone is willing to give up their life for something they believe in is worth recognizing," said Yazdani.

The vigil's sponsors said that they would like to have seen more involvement from students and other religions. Only seven turned out for the event.

"This could be something really powerful," said Sahba Rohani, a pre-education junior.

Those in attendance attributed the lack of student involvement to misconceptions about religion and the intentions of the group.

"We are not about conversion," Ngo said. "We are about education."

Group members also blamed a fear of religion as another reason for the lack of attendance.

Despite the small turnout, attendees thought that the students involved gathered some new knowledge about other religions and the people involved with them.

"I learned that I need to learn more about other religions," Yazdani said.

A conference delving more into religious backgrounds is tentatively planned for spring.

"I think it's a really good first step, but I would like to see it go further," Yazdani said.

Stephanie Corns can be reached via e-mail at Stephanie.Corns@wildcat.arizona.edu.