Discover the Facts

Philosopher George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Millions of lives have been lost in genocides throughout our world. The Holocaust stands out as the most haunting example of human evil. Yet despite the lessons and warning genocides hold for humanity, denial of history can be rampant. Such resistance to the truth and memory is dangerous. Today in the Middle East, women and minorities face widespread, targeted violence that is ideologically driven. Here you will find fact sheets and answers to frequently asked questions about genocide, the contemporary situation of minorities in the Middle East, and the meaning(s) of tolerance. The materials presented here range from histories of the Holocaust and contemporary anti-Semitism to a theoretical timeline of the concept of toleration to the contemporary persecution of the Baha’is in Iran and Coptic Christians in Egypt.

ABOUT TAVAANA

Tavaana: E-Learning Institute for Iranian Civil Society is Iran’s pioneer e-learning institute. Tavaana – meaning ‘empowered’ and ‘capable’ in Persian – was launched on May 17, 2010 with a mission to support active citizenship and civic leadership in Iran through a multi-platform civic education and civil society capacity building program. Tavaana holds a vision for a free and open Iranian society, one in which each and every Iranian enjoys equality, justice and the full spectrum of civil and political liberties.

ABOUT THE TOLERANCE PROJECT

The Tolerance Project aims to inspire conscience, pluralism, religious freedom, and celebration of difference. Using an array of educational materials in Arabic, Persian, and English, The Tolerance Project emphasizes the capacity of each and every individual to counter hate, and imparts the benefits of living in tolerant, open societies. The Tolerance Project educates to prevent persecution and genocide, cultivating the basis for vibrant and stable societies in the broader Middle East.