LAPLACE — St. John Parish Central Library in LaPlace will hold a free showing of the documentary “To Light a Candle” at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The 55-minute film centers around the persecution of Iran’s Baha’is and the creation of the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education.

The LaPlace showing is sponsored by the Baha’i Community of St. John Parish. Call 985-652-6513 for more information.

“To Light a Candle” is produced by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Maziar Bahari.

Questions and discussion will follow the film’s showing.

Local Baha’i spokesperson Diane Broussard said the film’s trailer and more information are available at educationisnotacrime.me.

“The film uses personal stories and dramatic archival footage to explore the persecution of the Baha’is and the role of their peaceful resistance in Iran’s democratic movement,” Broussard said.

“‘To Light a Candle’ is a hopeful story of the BIHE and Iran. This year the film sparked the global Education Is Not A Crime campaign for universal access to higher education.”

The last Friday of every February will be celebrated as Education is Not a Crime Day.

Broussard said The Baha’i Institute for Higher Education was established in 1987 to give young Baha’is a chance to pursue knowledge and receive a quality education.

The informal courses take place in people’s homes, via mail correspondence and with online lectures.

The Iranian government regularly raids BIHE classes and arrests its students and teachers. Hundreds of Baha’is have been jailed simply for teaching and studying at BIHE, Broussard said.