The relationships of capitalist system in Iran was formed since 19th century A.D. in primary manner. Late Qajar kingdom, the economic relationships of Iran and European countries like England and Russia were strengthened. The strengthening these relationships were in favor of the economy of European countries more than stabilization of the economic base of Iran.
However, it caused the economic relationships the Iranian country to be changed gradually. Meantime, the capitalist system resorted to the political power to develop its influence on countries like Iran. The great powers of the world used interior means like the influential groups like the Baha’is to achieve their goals.
The interactions between Baha’is of Iran and the foreign powers are both nearly clear and really complicated.
As a matter of fact, Bahaism nature is meaningful bonding with a foreign factor and it loses its concept and nature without it. Reviewing the historical works is an evidence for this reality.
Ahmad Kasrawi writes in the book the history of Constitution in Iran”:
“When Mirza Hussein Ali [Baha, the Baha’is leader] rose at the invitation and founded a group, the Russians in Iran and in Caucasus supported him. Bahaullah also showed his tendency towards the Russians in his writings. On other side, the English supported the Russians by the name of a topic in policy.”[۱]
Ali Muhammad Bab, the founder and the first leader of Babism as forerunner of Bahaism was active in his maternal uncle’s firm for 5 years which had an extensive relationship with English and Russian companies.
Bab’s residing in Boushehr was coincided with the earlier years of the activity of Sason company belonged to the Jewish heads of Bagdad in Boushehr and Bombay. Sasons became “the commercial emperors of the east” later on.
Sason descendants were the founders of opium trade and played a key role in the transformations of the contemporary history of Iran.[2]
As long as the competition between Russia and England continued in Iran, Azali Babis and the Baha’is benefited. After the domination of British government on Palestine, after the World War, the leader of the Baha’is, Abbas Effendi known as Abdul Baha, Hussein Ali’s offspring asked for “sir” medal due to cooperating and supporting the British troops against the Ottoman government.
The fulfillment of this issue is considered as a turning point for the Baha’is because according to historical reports, the cooperation between Baha’is and the British increases.[3]
Sir Dennis Wright, the British historian and politician mentions clearly the England’s support for the Baha’is in her book: “In many cases, Baha’is sought asylum to British embassy and telegraph house.”[4]
In the rival front, the Russian government supported the Baha’is extensively and seriously. For example: The adventure of the Baha’is of Azerbaijan to be imprisoned: “Russian console got angry with Shojaudduleh, Tabriz ruler. He personally went to prison at night, made the Baha’is free and took them consulate by his personal carriage and entertained.”[۵]
Gradually Baha’is benefits and great powers one joined together through such supports. For instance, Agha Ali Heydar Shirwani, a Baha’i person was of the influential members of the Russian embassy in Tehran city. With his supports, Muhammad Taghi Aftan became Vakil Al-Tajarah [commercial lawyer] of the Russian government in Bombay.
Also, Azizullah Varga could be employed in Russian Borrowing Bank in Tehran city.[6]
Valentin Chirol, the famous correspondence of the Times newspaper introduces the Baha’is as the spies of Russians in his famous book called “the problem of the Middle East or some political problems concerning India”.
This issue was correct about the English people. Particularly when falling Czar government ended the lifetime of supporting the Baha’is by the Russians.[7]
The mutual relationships between the British government and the Baha’is must be figured out in the framework of the concept of influence and backing up. In one side, the Baha’is were supported by them economically, politically and in security aspects and in another side the British benefited them as influence agents in various governmental parts.
Generally speaking, the precedence of the relationships between the Baha’is and the British government is more than other ones. Nasrullah Sadegh who is one of the supreme experts in planning and budget organization before the Islamic revolution believes that thousand families dominating on Iran had social intercourses with England mainly Jewish and Baha’is.[8]
These relationships continued to the coup 28th of Mordad when the United States of America took over this role boldly. Even, during Qajar period of time, the Baha’is had strong relationships with the American. For example, Nabil Al-Duleh transferred valuable ancient works to America.[9]
One of the other turning points of the relationships between the Baha’is and the American government during Qajar period of time is the intimate cooperation between this cult and William Morgan Shuster. Ismaeel Raeen writes in the introduction of the book “Iran’s strangulation” by Morgan Shuster:
“Before Shuster arrived in Tehran city, Ali Qoli Khan Nabiludduleh who was of the Baha’i heads of Iran and had intimate cooperation with Abdul Baha was the then charge d’Affaires of the Iranian embassy in Washington. He wrote a letter and asked them to welcome Shuster warmly in the day of Shuster’s arrival in Tehran city.”[۱۰]
Nabiluddutch tried openly and seriously for the American companies to be present in Iran including his attempts for the assignment of the Persian Gulf railway to Mazandaran, oil mining, the employment of the American advisors except for Shuster.”[۱۱]
In continuation of Nabiludduleh’s missions and activities, Abbas Effendi (the Baha’is lender) had extensive relationships with the important and influential western investors. In these periods of time, he had relationships with the members of Rothschild descendants who were of the main operators and investors of the plan of the Jewish lodgment in Palestine.
Abbas Effendi’s trips to Europe and America during the years 1911-1913 were proselytized extensively in western press assemblies indicating deep bonds between the Baha’i cult’s heads and the power centers of Europe and America. It was quite planned.
Source: Reza Qaribi, the Baha’i wealthy people and the Pahlavi regime, the contemporary history research institute, pp. 36-43.
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[۱] Ahmad Kasrawi, the history of Constitution in Iran, Amir the great, 1349, p.291.
[۲] Abdullah Shahbazi Iran, inquiries from Bahaism history in Iran, 7th year, No. 27, the institute of Iranian contemporary history of Iran,1382 S.H., p.13.
[۳]Fereydoun Adamiyat, Amir the great and Iran, 5th edition, Tehran:
Kharazmi, 1355 S.H. p. 457.
[۴] Dennis Wright, the Iranians among the British, translator: Manouchehr Taher Nia, Tehran, Ashtiyani, 136 S.H., p. 277.
[۵] Abdullah Shahbazi, ibid, p.21.
[۶] Ibid, p.20.
[۷] Fereydoun Adamiryat, ibid, pp. 229-231.
[۸] Keyhan, Isfand 23, 1384 S.H. p. 12.
[۹] Iraj Afshar, stormy life, Seyyed Hassan Taghi Zadeh’s memoirs, Tehran: Elmi publishing house, 1372 S.H.
[۱۰] Morgan Shuster, Iran’s strangulation, translator: Abul Hassan Mousavi Shoshtari, Tehran: Safi Ali Shah press agency, 1344 S.H. pp. 10-11
[۱۱] Iraj Afshar, Constitution letters and immigration from political men and local dignitaries to Seyyed Hassan Taghi Zadeh, Tehran: Qatreh publishing house, 1386 S.H., pp. 370-371.
