Before we speak about the Baha’is relationships and the Pahlavi government, this note is necessary to be mentioned that the relationships of Masonry and Baha’i movements were really complicated to such an extent that even according to SAVAK documents, Masonry in Iran was divided into two branches: Related to the Baha’i and non-Baha’i elements.
SANAK considered the Baha’i Masonry as more dangerous than the non –Baha’i one.[1] That is they could pass and deviate the Pahlavi system of government for their interests.
The reciprocity of the western investment and Bahaism in one side and the religious movement in Iran in other side could be observed in the religious decree of one of the religious source of authority in Qom City:
“Currently, manifestos concerning the sanction of trading and consuming non-alcoholic beverages related to Zamzam company (Pepsi Cola) belonged to Habib Sabet Pasal who is a Baha’i whose religious decree has been issued by Ayatollah Kazem Shariatmadari have been sent to Mashhad, Rasht, Abadeh and Masjed Soleyman for some religious bigoted people. The examples of the mentioned manifestos have been debated by SAVAK sources.”[۲]
It should be said concerning the relationships between the Baha’is and western powers that the foreign forces were exploiting the Baha’is for their interests inside the country. This issue caused the Baha’is power to be increased day by day during the second Pahlavi government particularly in the last decade of Pahlavi sovereignty. Mentioning two notes can show this increasing power well.
۱) In 1355 S.H., the Baha’is universal house of justice answered the following question: Must the Baha’i become the member of Rastakhiz party or not? This answer can show the power and influence of the Baha’is confronting Pahlavi government.
The universal house of justice stresses: “Write your loyalty and obedience towards the Shah and the laws of the country and be excused to be the member of the political parties if a form is given to you.”[۳]
It was said in circumstances that at the same time with the foundation of Rastakhiz party, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi notified all of his interior opponents to be able to get visa and leave the country if he/she is not willing to be the member of this party. This issue indicates the extent of influence and power of the Baha’is on Pahlavi sovereignty well.
۲) Another example which can show the Baha’is power during 1350s is that during this decade, the Baha’is expressed their religion more explicitly. According to the command by the universal house of justice, in a census done by the government, all Baha’is must write “Baha’i” in religion column, and they must be careful about the person in charge of census not to write Muslim or other religions.”[۴]
This extent of the Baha’is power had caused for rumors about the depth of relationships between the Baha’is and the Pahlavi government to be created in the Iranian community.
The relationships which weren’t just restricted to achieving the political posts, but the extensive political and economic corruption war created in the community.
According to SAVAK documents: “According to the existent rumors in the city, the government agrees with preaching Bahaism in Iran.”[۵]
The reality is that even the so-called civil bills such as family bill which had been given to parliament by the government had been planned based on Bahaism. On the other hand, the government had considered Bahaism rules as rudiment and had set family rule.
It is necessary to be mentioned that it wasn’t just Tehran in which the debate for the expansion of Bahaism power was hot, but many debates had been posed about the Baha’is gaining power in cities. According to SAVAK report, in Jahrom city people believe: “The majesty is paying special attention to the Baha’is.”[۶]
It should be paid attention that one of the characteristics which caused for the Baha’is power to be remarkable and sensible in the community was their organizational presence in important economic centers. For example; in 1350, “in aluminum making company in Arak city, the number of Baha’i employees are increasing day by day.”[۷] This event happened in another form in another factory: Iron melting factory of Isfahan city.[8]
Making center, assembly approach, and gathering in various economic centers provided necessary opportunities suitably for economic corruption apart from increasing the Baha’is share in political haggles.
Shahriyar Makan, the editor of Muhammad Reza’s several works says in this regard: “This special group of the Baha’i people’s fault was that they hired their fellow creed in sensitive positions of ministries and organizations.[9]
According to the remarks by the Baha’is themselves; earlier 1350s, all banks and offices investments and preaching money in the Iranian community are related to the Baha’is and the Jewish, All skyscrapers of Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan belong to the Baha’is. The economy of this country is in the hands of Baha’is.”[۱۰]
It is obvious that this extent of economic power and influence is not possible without the political power. It is a reality that economy and policy and moving alongside with each other. On the other hand, each group which possesses the economic power will definitely possess high political potential and power. The following officials who were Baha’i had occupied the most important political, military and security positions of the Pahlavi regime:
– Lieutenant general Ali Muhammad Khademi (Muhammad Reza Pahlavi’s equerry and the chairman of board of managers and the managing director of the Iranian national aviation “Homa”)
– Field Marshal Ja’far Shafaghat (the commander of Kingdom of the guard and the head of the common staff)
– Dr. Shahpour Rasekh (the assistant of program organization and the head census center of the Iranian census center)
– Dr. Manouchehr Shahgholi (one of the founders of progressed center and the member of board of managers and executive committee and the executive committee of Iran Novin party and one of the intimates of Hoveida and the minister of public health of his cabinet from Ordibehesht 1344 to Shahrivar 1352 and then the minister of sciences and higher education)
– Lieutenant general Asadullah Saniee (the special equerry of Mahammad Reza Pahlavi during the time of succession to the throne in Reza Khan court, the minister of war and the minister of agriculture products and ingredients during Muhammad Reza’s kingdom and of three agents compilation of Capitulation in Asadullah Alam’s government)
– Mansour Rowhani (the minister of water, electricity and also agriculture in Mansour and Hoveyda’s cabinets and the managing director of civil organization in the west of Tehran in Amouzegar cabinet and also the member of the assembly of the representatives of founders of Rastakhiz party and one of 30-people members of the first political office of that party)
– Muhammad Hussein Ahmadi (the offspring of one of the Baha’i proselytizers in Boshrouyeh, Hoveida’s assistant, the prime minister and the head of endowment organization after Manouchehr Azmoon, having various jobs in Finance Ministry, sciences and higher education and municipality, the member of board of trustees of educational institutions of Farah Pahlavi, the agent of Fatemeh Pahlavi, the Shah’s sister, the member of progressive center and Rastakhiz and Iran Novin parties)
– Golam Abbas Aram (the minister of foreign affairs during the years 1338-1345 and the agent in establishing relationship with Israel, the member of board of trustees of Pahlavi university of Shiraz in 1342 S.H and the central council of kingdom celebrations in 1343 S.H. and the appointed senator of Tehran in Day, 1355 S.H.)
– Houshang Nahavandi (the minister of development and housing in Mansour and Hoveyda’s governments during the years 1342-1347 S.H., the state equerry of the Shah in 1347 S.H., the den of Pahlavi university of Shiraz and the den of Tehran university, one of the pillars of the Shah- made party Rastakhiz, the special head of Farah’s office in 1353 S.H., and eventually the minister of sciences and higher education in Sharif Imami government in 1357.
– Farrokhrou Parsa (the member of progressive center and the political office of Iran Novin party, the head of the academic women population related to the American embassy L.F.U.W, the representative of education ministry in the permanent committee of guard in SAVAK in Khordad 1344 S.H. and the lawyer and senator of parliament and the minister of education during the years 1347-1353 S.H.)
– Dr. Manouchehr Shah Qoli (the assistant of intelligent service ministry in ۱۳۴۵ S.H., having Homayoun modal in Aban ۴, ۱۳۴۶ S.H., the den of Tabriz university in 1347 S.H., the managing director of the expansion and rehabilitation of the industries of Iran in 1351 S.H., the member of the board of trustees of educational and industrial association on 1352 S.H., the member of supreme council of national Radio and television organization of Iran and also the member of education council of Iran in 1353 S.H., and the minister of commerce and intelligent service of Hoveida and having Homayoun medal in Aban 4, 1346 S.H.)
– Lieutenant general Parviz Khosrawani (the commander of gendarmerie of Tehran city during the massacre of Khordad 15, 1342, the special equerry of the Shah and Farah, too, the assistant of the prime minister and the head of physical education organization during Hoveida and Maliheh Naeemi who is of the influential and active heads and proselytizers of Bahaism)
– Engineer Fathullah Sotoudeh (the minister of post, telegraph and telephone during Mansour and then Hoveida)
– Engineer Amir Qasem Eshraqi (the minister of post and telegraph of Razm Ara On Shahrivar 1329 S.H. and Hussein Ala in 1334 S.H. and Dr. Manouchehr Eqbal)
– Dr. Manouchehr Farhang Mehr (Hoveida’s assistant at the time of his ministry of finance in Hassan Ali Mansour cabinet, the den of Pahlavi university of Shiraz and the permanent member of executive board of Rastakhiz party)
– Amis Mansour Sardari, Hoveyda’s cousin, educated in Alborz college of Tehran, Paris and America, having French and Masonry wife and of the members of founders progresive center and Iran Novin party, the assistant of the ministry of public health and the head of the programs of health and family planning related to Israeli networks in Iran).
– Parviz Sabeti (the assistant of security organization and famous security official and the special equerry of the Shah and the intimate friend, consultant and trusted by Hoveyda) and etc.
The numerous number of the Baha’is in the first level of the officials of the country ended in more tension and gap between kingdom and clergymen day by day in addition to causing the expansion of economic and political pressure in the country. Particularly, the Baha’is economic corruption had made life more difficult for Iranian Muslim people and this issue had made pessimistic look towards the government.
Consequently, it is natural that when a government ignores the expansion and depth of systematic corruption, it must wait for the opposition of various group and people of all walks of life.
Source: Reza Qaribi, the Baha’s wealthy people and the Pahlavi regime, pp.80-88.
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[۱] Mojtaba Majd Abadi, the influence of the Baha’is in Pahlavi government narrated by documents, p.516.
[۲] Ibid, p.508.
[۳] Ibid, p. 153.
[۴] Ibid, p.553.
[۵] Ibid, p. 595.
[۶] Ibid, p.556.
[۷] Ibid, p.534
[۸] Ibid, p.532
[۹] Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, answering the history, attempted by Shahriyar Makan, Tehran: Alborz, 1371, pp. ۴۴۶-۴۴۷
[۱۰] Mojtaba majd Abadi, former, p.529.





