An excerpt from a dialogue with Qasem Tabrizi
In a trip to England, Abbas Effendi (Abdul Baha) was applauded by the English and was given the sir medal. A medal which was just given by the English to those who serve the British emperor. Well, what is his relationship with the English?
The interaction between the Baha’ism cult and the Colonial processes in Iran is nearly long and now it will be a good opportunity for it to be reread…
When was the first Baha’is organization ran in Iran?
After Mirza Hussein Ali‘s death in 1309 A.H. and Abbas Effendi’s succession, the extensive activities of Baha’is were started and the first Baha’i organization was ran in Iran in the form of a organization in 1317 A.H It will be interesting to be noted that the Baha’is are making an organization in America at the same year, too. From this time on, there are two parts for Baha’ism: The British and American ones. Of course, the original one is still British; but the American seed is making. They sense to achieve their aims using this means. In this period of time, a trip is being prepared for Abbas Effendi to be taken to France.
Seyyed Hassan Taghi Zadeh and Muhammad Qazvini visit him for three times; but none say to state which notes during those meetings. Taghizadeh himself writes about those meetings: We went to his house having a big corridor. He was wearing white clothes. He had made black soup stew for us that night.
Also, Muhammad Qazvini writes in his notes: I hope Taghzadeh to say a day what he had said during those meetings. The question is that: What is the relationship between Taghizadeh and Baha? Now, Taghizadeh had relationships with Nabiludduleh in America in addition to Abbas Effendi in France.
How was the extent of the American and the British with the Baha’i leader during this period of time?
In his trip to England, Abbas Effendi (Abdul Baha) was applauded by the English and was bestowed the Sir medal. A medal which has been bestowed to ones who had served 9 and are serving) the British emperor. Well, what is his relationship with the English? After that Abbas Effendi took a trip to America, too.
During this period of time, Mirza Ali Qoli Khan Nabiludduleh, one of the political men in the Iranian embassy in America who had an American wife had relationships with the American and then come back to Acre again, too. After Abbas Effendi’s death in 1300, the responsibility of the Baha’i organization was taken over by Shoqi Effendi who had been educated in England. Shoqi tried to make the movement into a party possessing a core committee managed by several special people…
When did the Baha’is enter into the Iranian governmental structure?
According the Baha’is presence in the governmental structure of Qajar dynasty is hidden; but during this period of time, the Baha’is had three activities: the first in Acre and Heifa in which several political and cultural men were traveling there as passengers and writing about their trips in their memoirs. The second was in Iran itself from 1317 A.H. that is Muzzafreddin shah’s period of time and several years before the constitutional revolution. The third refers to Abdul Baha’s trips to Europe and America. Gradually, the organization was formed and strengthened. Because the Pahlavi period of time had a Colonial government and the coup was done by the English and they brought Reza Khan in order to rule out the western culture; first, and then to remove Islam from Iran and next to preserve the British interests and position in Iran, the opportunities for the Baha’is activities would be provided. The role of the Baha’ism movement after the constitution to the coup is remarkable and worthy to be noticed; such as the formation of punishment committee during these period of time.
Were Baha’is influential on how Reza Khan was elected?
In this regard, Muhammad reza Ashtiyani Zadeh writes in his memoirs: “One day I saw Einul Mulk, Amir Abbas Hoveyda’s father who was one of Baha’i activists and whose house was a resort for the relationships between the English and the Baha’is and the politicians with a stronger. As soon as that person arrived, Einul Mulk said to his servant to close the door and not to let anybody else come in. then, he introduced the stranger to me and said he was Mr. Ardeshir jay known as Ardeshir reporter, our intimate friend.
There is a text in the court documents which is 35-page. Ardeshir has written in it: “In 1296 S.H., I found Reza khan and considered him as suitable for ruling on Iran, because he was a patriot militant defender; but he was illiterate; so I took him a history class. Sometimes we were going to Noor city, Mazandaran and I merely told him about the history of Iran.”
Of course, some believe that Einul Mulk has introduced him to Ardeshir jay
How much the Baha’is influenced on the first Pahlavi period of time?
Fardoust writes in his memoirs: Reza Khan was optimistic about the Baha’is; but he didn’t openly employ the Baha’is. For instance; in 1313 S.H., when Asadullah Saniee and Dr. Abdul Karim Ayadi wrote their religions as Baha’is in their employment paper in the army and the issue was reported to the king, he said: Don’t write Baha’i; but be in the army.”
It is interesting to be noted that Asadullah Saniee was the special adjutant of Muhammad Reza; that is, there wasn’t any person among the militants except for Baha’i Saniee to be the special adjutant of shah to teach him the military trainings.
Thank to dear researcher
Qasem Tabrizi
