Contrary to the slogan of the equality between men and women shouted in Baha’ism, the Baha’is are deprived of being present at the highest pillars of the leadership of the cult including the guardian of the faith rank. Concerning this issue, there are various materials have been presented. The existence of contradiction in the Baha’i principles and the behavior of the Baha’i leadership can’t be removed out of the cult because the Baha’ism cult can continue its existence merely based on contradiction.
According to the documents in Baha’ism, one of the 12 new teachings introduced by our leaders as a condition to achieve prosperity of human being is the complete equality between men and women: “The tenth teaching of the Excellency Bahaullah is the oneness of men and women. It is impossible for the prosperity of human beings unless by the complete equality between them.[1]”
After the investigation of this claim, the question is that: why must the highest members and leaders of the Baha’i organization (including the guardian of the faith who is the head of the male members of the universal house of justice) be a man according to the Baha’ism leaders’ rules and contrary this slogan?!
According to the will attributed to Abdul Baha, he has considered Shoqi Effendi as the first guardian of the faith and assumed the guardians from the male offspring:”وَ مِن بَعده بکراً بعد بکر” “O’ the divine disciples, the guardian of the faith must appoint the one after himself in his lifetime in order for the difference not to be created after ascension.[2]” anyway, is Baha’ism going to create equality among all men and women of the world in this way?!
Also, the Baha’is are claiming for the position of the guardian of the faith and the membership in the universal house of justice is not concessionary but it is a divine- responsibility for which the women are exempt in the Baha’i faith.
Why must the highest members and leaders of the Baha’i organization be male according to the rules by the Baha’ism leaders (including the guardian of the faith who is the head if the male members of the universal house of justice)?!
It should be answered that: 1) If it isn’t a privilege and it is just a responsibility and trouble why will it be taken over by men?! Isn’t it against the slogan of the equality between men and women?! Also; contrary to the claim of the Baha’is, Abdul Baha has said and considered this rank as one of two managerial and presidential pillars of Baha’ism: “This new discipline is one of the ill and null systems of the world in the history of the unique religions. Its foundation background is based on two pillars: the first and the greatest one. The divine guardianship which is the clarification base and the second pillar is the divine universal house of justice which is the source of legislation…[۳]”
However, how can they justify the fact that women can be deprived of the leadership of Baha’ism?! How can women be considered not to be merited for the managerial pillars of Baha’ism while they are speaking about the equality between men and women?!
[۱] Abbas Effendi, the Sermons, Germany: the national assembly of publishing the faith works, Badi’a, Vol. 2, pp.149-150.
[۲] Refer to Abbas Effendi, tablets and wills, the national assembly of the Baha’is of Pakistan: Sterling garden road publishing house, November 1960 A.D., pp. 11& 12.
[۳] Shoqi Effendi, the Blessed Writings of the Excellency God’s faith guardian, Bija: The national institute of the faith press, 125 Badi’a, p. 127.
