Contrary to the slogan of the equality between men and women in Baha’ism, the Baha’i women are deprived of being present in the highest pillars of this cult; that is the leadership and the guardian of the faith.
According to the Baha’i documents, one of the 12 principles of Baha’ism is the complete equality between men and women: “The 10th teaching of the Excellency Bahaullah is the oneness of men and women… The prosperity of humane world won’t be complete except by the equality between men and women.[1] “
According to Abdul Baha’s will, he has considered Shoqi Effendi as the first guardian of the faith and has assumed all guardian from his male offspring;
“و مِن بعده بکراً بعد بکر[۲]”
Also, the Baha’is claim for the position of guardian of the faith and the membership in the universal house of justice not to be concessive, but it is merely a divine responsibility exempted by women in the Baha’i faith.
Question: Why should the highest members and leaders of the Baha’i organization (such as the guardian of the faith who is the head of the male members of the universal house of justice) be male?
Answer: Isn’t it contrary to the slogan of the equality between men and women? Contrary to the Baha’is claim, Abdul Baha has considered this position as one of the two unique managerial and chairmanship pillar.
How is it possible to speak about the equality between men and women but women are deprived of being the member of the universal house of justice or being leader?
[۱] Abbas Effendi, the Sermons, Germany: the national assembly of publishing the faith works, 127 Badi’a, Vol. 2, pp. 149-150.
[۲] Refer to Abbas Effendi, the will tablets, the national assembly of the Baha’is of Pakistan: Sterling Garden Road publishing house, Nov. 1960, p. 11-12
