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The original Persian text of this letter is also available offsite .
Submitted by Robert Stauffer.
THE BANNING OF BAHA'I RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
IN IRAN: AN OPEN LETTER
by
THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA'IS OF IRAN
September 3, 1983
PREFACE
On August 29, 1983 the Revolutionary Prosecutor General of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Siyyid Husayn Musavi Tabrizi, declared in a press interview that Baha'i religious
organizations were illegal and participation in them was a criminal act. The decree outlawed
the National Spiritual Assembly, governing body of the Iranian Baha'i community, and 400
local spiritual assemblies, as well as their committees and subsidiary institutions. In
conformity with the teachings of their faith the Baha'is of Iran disbanded all their
organizations.
The dissolution of organizations that the Baha'is call administrative institutions means much
more than those who are unfamiliar with the role spiritual assemblies play in a community
that has no clergy may imagine. The spiritual assemblies collectively perform the work of
priest, teacher, advisor, trustee of funds, and keeper of records. They admit to membership,
witness marriages, supervise the religious education of children, settle disputes among
individuals, grant religious divorce, encourage good deeds and censure bad behavior. Thus
spiritual assemblies are central to the life of the Baha'i community.
The document presented here is a letter written by the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Baha'is of Iran in response to the statement of the Prosecutor General outlawing Baha'i
administrative institutions. One will realize the degree of courage it took the members of the
National Spiritual Assembly thus to address the Islamic Government when one recalls that
seventeen of their predecessors on the National Assembly had been either abducted or
executed by the same regime.
The letter, delivered to some 2,000 government officials and prominent personages in Iran,
eloquently testifies to the heroism of its authors and the peaceful nature of the community
they led. It exemplifies also the confidence and pride of those who firmly believe that the
One unknowable God has decreed the ultimate triumph of truth and justice.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States November 1, 1983
[ page 1] BP000121
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THE BANNING OF BAHA'I RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
IN IRAN: AN OPEN LETTER
(translated from Persian)
12 Shahrivar 1362
ISeptember 3, 1983]
Recently the esteemed Prosecutor General of the Islamic Revolution of the Country, in an interview that
was published in the newspapers, declared that the continued functioning of the Baha'i religious and
spiritual administration is banned and that membership in it is considered to be a crime. This declaration
has been made after certain unjustified accusations have been levelled against the Baha'i community of
Iran and after a number of its members-ostensibly for imaginary and fabricated crimes but in reality
merely for the sake of their beliefs - have been either executed,. or arrested and imprisoned. The majority
of those who have been imprisoned have not yet been brought to trial. The Baha'i community finds the
conduct of the authorities and the judges bewildering and lamentable - as indeed would any fair-minded
observer who is unblinded by malice. The authorities are the refuge of the people; the judges in pursuit
of their work of examining and ascertaining the truth and facts in legal cases devote years of their lives
to studying the law and, when uncertain of a legal point, spend hours poring over copious tomes in order
to cross a t and dot an i. Yet these very people consider themselves to be justified in brazenly bringing
false accusations against a band of innocent people, without fear of the Day of Judgment, without even
believing the calumnies they utter against their victims, and having exerted not the slightest effort to
investigate to any degree the validity of the charges they are making. “Methinks they are not believers in
the Day of Judgment.” [ Hafiz, a 14th century Persian poet] The honorable Prosecutor has again
introduced the baseless and fictitious story that Baha'is engage in espionage, but without producing so
much as one document in support of the accusation, without presenting proof in any form, and without
any explanation as to what is the mission in this country of this extraordinary number of “spies”: what
sort of information they obtain and from what sources? Whither do they relay it, and for what purpose?
What kind of “spy” is an eighty-five year old man from Yazd who has never set foot outside his village?
Why do these alleged “spies” not hide themselves, conceal their religious beliefs and exert every effort
to penetrate, by every stratagem, the Government's
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information centers and offices? Why has no Baha'i “spy” been arrested anywhere else in the world?
How could students, housewives, innocent young girls, and old men and women, such as those
blameless Baha'is who have recently been delivered to the gallows in Iran, or who have become targets
for the darts of prejudice and enmity, be “spies”? How could the Baha'i farmers of the villages of Afus
Chigan, the Fort of Malak (near Isfahan), and those of the village of Nuk in Birjand, be “spies”? What
secret intelligence documents have been found in their possession? What espionage equipment has come
to hand? What “spying” activities were engaged in by the primary school children who have been
expelled from their schools?
And how strange! The honorable Prosecutor perhaps does not know, or does not care to know, that
spying is an element of politics, while noninterference in politics is an established principle of the Baha'i
Faith. On the contrary, Baha'is love their country and never permit themselves to be traitors. ‘Abdu'l-
Baha, the successor of the Founder of the Baha'i Cause, says: “Any abasement is bearable except
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betraying one's own country, and any sin is forgivable other than dishonoring the government and
inflicting harm upon the nation.”
All the other accusations made against the Baha'is by the honorable Prosecutor of the Revolution are
similarly groundless. He brands the Baha'i community with accusations of subversion and corruption.
For example, on the basis of a manifestly forged interview, the falsity of which has been dealt with in a
detailed statement, he accuses the Baha'i community of hoarding, an act which its members would
consider highly reprehensible. The Prosecutor alleges that the Baha'i administration sanctioned the
insensible act of hoarding, yet he subtly overlooks the fact that with the proceeds that might be realized
from the sale of unusable automobile spare parts whose total value is some 70 million tumans - the value
of the stock of any medium-size store for spare parts-it would be impossible to overthrow a powerful
government whose daily expenditures amount to hundreds of millions of tumans. If the Prosecutor
chooses to label the Baha'i administration as a network of espionage, let him at least consider it
intelligent enough not to plan the overthrow of such a strong regime by hoarding a few spare parts! Yes,
such allegations of corruption and subversion are similar to those hurled against us at the time of the
Episcopalian case in Isfahan when this oppressed community was accused of collaboration with foreign
agents, as a result of which seven innocent Baha'is of Yazd were executed. Following this the falsity of
the charges was made known and the Prosecutor announced the episode to be the outcome of a forgery.
Baha'is are accused of collecting contributions and transferring sums of money to foreign countries.
How strange! If Muslims, in accordance with their sacred and respected spiritual beliefs, send millions
of tumans to Karbala, Najaf and Jerusalem, or to other Muslim holy places outside Iran, to be spent on
the maintenance and upkeep of the Islamic sacred shrines, it is considered very
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praiseworthy; but if a Baha'i - even during the time in which the transfer of foreign currency was
allowed - sends a negligible amount for his international community to be used for the repair and
maintenance of the holy places of his faith, it is considered that he has committed an unforgivable sin
and it is counted as proof that he has done so in order to strengthen other countries.
Accusations of this nature are many but all are easy to investigate. Ifjust and impartial people and God-
fearing judges will only do so, the falsity of these spurious accusations will be revealed in case after
case. The Baha'i community emphatically requests that such accusations be investigated openly in the
presence of juries composed ofjudges and international observers so that, once and for all, the
accusations may be discredited and their repetition prevented.
The basic principles and beliefs of the Baha'is have been repeatedly proclaimed and set forth in writing
during the past five years. Apparently these communications, either by deliberate design or by
mischance, have not received any attention, otherwise accusations such as those described above would
not have been repeated by one of the highest and most responsible authorities. This in itself is a proof
that the numerous communications referred to were not accorded the attention of the leaders; therefore,
we mention them again.
The Baha'i Faith confesses the unity of God and the justice of the divine Essence. It recognizes that
Almighty God is an exalted, unknowable and concealed entity, sanctified from ascent and descent, from
egress and regress, and from assuming a physical body. The Baha'i Faith which professes the existence
of the invisible God, the One, the Single, the Eternal, the Peerless, bows before the loftiness of His
Threshold, believes in all divine Manifestations, considers all the Prophets from Adam to the Seal of the
Prophets as true divine Messengers Who are the Manifestations of Truth in the world of creation,
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accepts Their Books as having come from God, believes in the continuation of the divine outpourings,
emphatically believes in reward and punishment and, uniquely among existing revealed religions outside
Islam, accepts the Prophet Muhammad as a true Prophet and the Qur'an as the Word of God.
The Baha'i Faith embodies independent principles and laws. It has its own Holy Book. It prescribes
pilgrimage and worship. A Baha'i performs obligatory prayers and observes a fast. He gives, according
to his beliefs, tithes and contributions. He is required to be of upright conduct, to manifest a
praiseworthy character, to love all mankind, to be of service to the world of humanity and to sacrifice his
own interests for the good and well-being of his kind. He is forbidden to commit unbecoming deeds.
‘Abdu'l-Baha says: “A Baha”i is known by the attributes manifested by him, not by his name: he is
recognized by his character, not by his person.”
Shoghi Rabbani, the Guardian of the Baha'i Cause, says: “... a person who is not adorned with the
ornaments of virtue, sanctity, and morality, is not a true Baha'i, even though he may call himself one and
be known as such.”
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He also says: “The friends of God.. . are required to be virtuous, well- wishers, forbearing, sanctified,
detached from all except God and free from worldly concerns. They are called upon to manifest divine
attributes and characteristics.”
The teachings and laws of the Baha'i religion testify to this truth. Fortunately, the books and writings
which have been plundered in abundance from the homes of Baha'is and are available to the authorities,
bear witness to the truth of these assertions. Baha'is, in keeping with their spiritual beliefs, stay clear of
politics; they do not support or reject any party, group or nation; they do not champion or attack any
ideology or any specific political philosophy; they shrink from and abhor political agitation. The
Guardian of the Baha'i Cause says, “The followers of Baha'u'lla'h under whatever state or government
they may reside should conduct themselves with truthfulness, fidelity, trustworthiness and absolute
virtue.... They neither thirst for fame nor clamor for leadership. They neither indulge in flattery, nor
practice hypocrisy, nor are they impelled by selfish ambition or the desire to accumulate wealth. They
are not anxious to attain high ranks and positions, nor are they the bond- slaves of titles and honors.
They abhor every form of ostentation and are far removed from the use of such methods as would entail
violence or coercion. They have detached themselves from all else save God and have fixed their hearts
upon the unfailing promises of their Lord. ...They have become forgetful of their own selves and have
dedicated themselves to that which will serve the interests of humanity. ... They unhesitatingly refuse
such functions and posts as are political in nature, but wholeheartedly accept those that are purely
administrative in character. For the cardinal aim of the people of Baha is to promote the interests of the
whole nation....
“Such is the way of the followers of Baha, such is the attitude of the spiritually-minded, and whatsoever
else is but manifest error.”
Also, Baha'is, in accordance with their exalted teachings, are duty bound to be obedient to their
government. Elucidating this subject, Shoghi Rabbani says: “The people of Baha are required to obey
their respective governments, and to demonstrate their truthfulness and good will towards the
authorities... .Baha'is, in every land and without any exception, should... be obedient and bow to the clear
instructions and the declared decrees issued by the authorities. They must faithfully carry out such
directives.”
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Baha'i organizations have no aim except the good of all nations and do not take any steps that are against
the public good. Contrary to the conception it may create in the mind because of the similarity in name,
it does not resemble the current organizations of political parties; it does not interfere in political affairs;
and it is the safeguard against the involvement of Baha'is in subversive political activities. Its high ideals
are “to improve the characters of men; to extend the scope of knowledge; to abolish ignorance and
prejudice; to strengthen the
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foundations of true religion in all hearts; to encourage self-reliance, and discourage false imitation;.. .to
uphold truthfulness, audacity, frankness, and courage; to promote craftsmanship and agriculture;.. .to
educate, on a compulsory basis, children of both sexes; to insist on integrity in business transactions to
lay stress on the observance of honesty and piety;...to acquire mastery and skill in the modern sciences
and arts; to promote the interests of the public;...to obey outwardly and inwardly and with true loyalty
the regulations enacted by state and government;...to honor, to extol and to follow the example of those
who have distinguished themselves in science and learning....” And again, “...to help the needy from
every creed or sect, and to collaborate with the people of the country in all welfare services.”
In brief, whatever the clergy in other religions undertake individually and by virtue of their appointment
to their positions, the Baha'i administration performs collectively and through an elective process.
The statements made by the esteemed Prosecutor of the Revolution do not seem to have legal basis,
because in order to circumscribe individuals and deprive them of the rights which have not been denied
them by the Constitution, it is necessary to enact special legislation, provided that legislation is not
contradictory to the Constitution. It was hoped that the past recent years would have witnessed, on the
one hand, the administration of divine justice - a principle promoted by the true religion of Islam and
prescribed by all monotheistic religions - and, on the other, and coupled with an impartial investigation
of the truths of the Baha'i Faith, the abolition or at least mitigation of discrimination, restrictions and
pressures suffered by Baha'is over the past 135 years. Alas, on the contrary, because of long-standing
misunderstandings and prejudices, the difficulties increased immensely and the portals of calamity were
thrown wide open in the faces of the long-suffering and sorely oppressed Baha'is of Iran who were, to an
even greater degree, deprived of their birthrights through the systematic machinations of Government
officials who are supposed to be the refuge of the public, and of some impostors in the garb of divines,
who engaged in official or unofficial spreading of mischievous and harmful accusations and calumnies,
and issued, in the name of religious and judicial authorities, unlawful decrees and verdicts.
Many are the pure and innocent lives that have been snuffed out; many the distinguished heads that have
adorned the hangman's noose; and many the precious breasts that became the targets of firing squads.
Vast amounts of money and great quantities of personal property have been plundered or confiscated.
Many technical experts and learned people have been tortured and condemned to long-term
imprisonment and are still languishing in dark dungeons, deprived of the opportunity of placing their
expertise at the service of the Government and the nation. Numerous are the self- sacrificing employees
of the Government who spent their lives in faithful service but who were dismissed from work and
afflicted
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with poverty and need because of hatred and prejudice. Even the owners of private firms and institutions
were prevented from engaging Baha'is. Many privately-owned Baha'i establishments have been
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confiscated. Many tradesmen have been denied the right to continue working by cancellation of their
business licenses. Baha'i youth have been denied access to education in many schools and in all
universities and institutions of higher education. Baha'i university students abroad are deprived of
receiving money for their education, and others who wish to pursue their studies outside Iran have been
denied exit permits. Baha'is, including the very sick whose only hope for cure was to receive medical
treatment in specialized medical centers in foreign lands, have been prevented from leaving the country.
Baha'i cemeteries have been confiscated and bodies rudely disinterred. Numerous have been the days
when a body has remained unburied while the bereaved family pleaded to have a permit issued and a
burial place assigned so that the body might be decently buried. As of today, thousands of Baha'is have
been divested of their homes and forced to live as exiles. Many have been driven from their villages and
dwelling places and are living as wanderers and stranded refugees in other parts of Iran with no other
haven and refuge but the Court of the All-Merciful God and the loving-kindness of their friends and
relatives.
It is a pity that the mass media, newspapers and magazines, either do not want or are not allowed to
publish any news about the Baha'i community of Iran or to elaborate upon what is happening. If they
were free to do so and were unbiased in reporting the daily news, volumes would have been compiled
describing the inhumane cruelty to and oppression of the innocent. For example, if they were allowed to
do so, they would have written that in Shiraz seven courageous men and ten valiant women - seven of
whom were girls in the prime of their lives - audaciously rejected the suggestion of the religious judge
that they recant their faith or, at least, dissemble their belief, and preferred death to the concealment of
their faith. The women, after hours of waiting with dried lips, shrouded themselves in their chadurs,
kissed the noose of their gallows, and with intense love offered up their souls for the One Who
proferreth life. The observers of this cruel scene might well ask forgiveness for the murderers at
Karbala, since they, despite their countless atrocities, did not put women to the sword nor harass the sick
and infirm. Alas, tongues are prevented from making utterance and pens are broken and the hidden
cause of these brutalities is not made manifest to teach the world a lesson. The Prosecutor alleges that
they were spies. Gracious God! Where in history can one point to a spy who readily surrendered his life
in order to prove the truth of his belief?
Unfortunately it is beyond the scope of this letter to recount the atrocities inflicted upon the guiltless
Baha'is of Iran or to answer, one by one, the accusations levelled against them. But let us ask all just and
fair-minded people only one question: If, according to the much-publicized statements of the
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Prosecutor, Baha'is are not arrested and executed because of their belief, and are not even imprisoned on
that account, how is it that, when a group of them is arrested and each is charged with the same “crime”
of “spying”, if one of them recants his belief, he is immediately freed, a photograph of him and a
description of his defection are victoriously featured in the newspapers, and respect and glory are heaped
upon him? What kind of spying, subversion, illegal accumulation of goods, aggression or conspiracy or
other “crime” can it be that is capable of being blotted out upon the recantation of one's beliefs? Is this
not a clear proof of the absurdity of the accusations?
In spite of all this, the Baha'i community of Iran, whose principles have been described earlier in this
statement, announces the suspension of the Baha'i organizations throughout Iran, in order to establish its
good intentions and in conformity with its basic tenets concerning complete obedience to the
instructions of the Government. Henceforth, until the time when, God willing, the misunderstandings are
eliminated and the realities are at last made manifest to the authorities, the National Assembly and all
local spiritual assemblies and their committees are disbanded, and no one may any longer be designated
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a member of the Baha'i Administration.
The Baha'i community of Iran hopes that this step will be considered a sign of its complete obedience to
the Government in power. It further hopes that the authorities - including the esteemed Prosecutor of the
Islamic Revolution who says that there is no opposition to and no enmity towards individual Baha'is,
who has acknowledged the existence of a large Baha'i community and has, in his interview, guaranteed
its members the right to live and be free in their acts of worship - will reciprocate by proving their good
intentions and the truth of their assurances by issuing orders that pledge, henceforth:
1. To bring to an end the persecutions, arrests, torture and imprisonment of Bahavis for
imaginary crimes and on baseless pretexts, because God knows- and so do the authorities -
that the only “crime” of which these innocent ones are guilty is that of their beliefs, and not
the unsubstantiated accusations brought against them;
2. To guarantee the safety of their lives, their personal property and belongings, and their
honor;
3. To accord them freedom to choose their residence and occupation and the right of
association based on the provisions of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic;
4. To restore all the rights which have been taken away from them in accordance with the
groundless assertions of the Prosecutor of the Country;
5. To restore to Baha'i employees the rights denied them by returning them to their jobs and
by paying them their due wages;
6. To release from prison all innocent prisoners;
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7. To lift the restrictions imposed on the properties of those Baha'is who, in their own
country, have been deprived of their belongings;
8. To permit Baha'i students who wish to continue their studies abroad to benefit from the
same facilities that are provided to others;
9. To permit those Baha'i youth who have been prevented from continuing their studies in
the country to resume their education;
10. To permit those Baha'i students stranded abroad who have been deprived of foreign
exchange facilities to receive their allowances as other Iranian students do;
11. To restore Baha'i cemeteries and to permit Baha' is to bury their dead in accordance with
Baha”i burial ceremonies;
12. To guarantee the freedom of Baha'is to perform their religious rites; to conduct funerals
and burials including the recitation of the Prayer for the Dead; to solemnize Baha'i
marriages and divorces, and to carry out all acts of worship and laws and ordinances
affecting personal status; because although Baha'is are entirely obedient and subordinate to
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(a
the Government in the administration of the affairs which are in the jurisdiction of Baha'i
organizations, in matters of conscience and belief, and in accordance with their spiritual
principles, they prefer martyrdom to recantation or the abandoning of the divine ordinances
prescribed by their faith;
13. To desist henceforth from arresting and imprisoning anyone because of his previous
membership in Baha'i organizations.
Finally, although the order issued by the Prosecutor of the Islamic Revolution was unjust and unfair, we
have accepted it. We beseech God to remove the dross of prejudice from the hearts of the authorities so
that aided and enlightened by His confirmations they will be inspired to recognize the true nature of the
affairs of the Baha'i community and come to the unalterable conviction that the infliction of atrocities
and cruelties upon a pious band of wronged ones, and the shedding of their pure blood, will stain the
good name and injure the prestige of any nation or government, for what will, in truth, endure are the
records of good deeds, and of acts of justice and fairness, and the names of the doers of good. These will
history preserve in its bosom for posterity.
Respectfully,
(signed) National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Iran
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