By World War I, the British policy in Iran was based on weakening the central government and making disruption and insecurity by the rebellious and bandits, but after discovering oil in Iran, India lost the role played for the British emperor in 19th century and the centrality of the British policy transferred from India to the Persian Gulf [1].
Due to discovering oil in Iran and to use it completely, England needed a central, powerful and quite royal government in this country. So, to achieve this goal, England turned to its old companions and founded the unity among the heads of Babi [2], Azali and Baha’i cults and exploited them to perform Isfand 1299 Coup.
Muhammad Reza Ashtiyani, one of the politicians of Pahlavi periods of time says about the special relationships between Reza Khan and the Baha’is and the process of electing him for 1299 coup:
“Sir Ardeshir Reporter sent by Lord Curzon, the regent of India visited Ein Al-Molk, Hoveyda’s father who was of the influential people of Bahaism cult in Iran and asked him to introduce a person who has two characteristics: 1) to be Cossack official and 2) Not to be the faithful Shia. So, Ein Al-Molk introduced Reza Khan to Ardeshir and Ardeshir introduced him to Freezer and other British people in charge.”[۱] [3]
Consequently, a Baha’i introduced Reza Khan to the British. In this way, a triangle is formed: The central power headed by Reza Khan, England, as the foreign supporter and Bahaism as the interior agent, follower and the executor of the British policies in Iran.
Maurice Wachenfort, the Dutch traveler writes in his travelogue entitled ” traveling with a caravan to the south of Iran” that he had visited Reza Khan as the member the disciples of Hajji Akhond Babi, one of the heads of Babism cult and also as one of the close associate of Hussein Ali Baha. Earlier, he had visited Reza Khan in his country embassy as hobbler.”[۲] [4]
The most remarkable note is that since the onset of the coup, there was a strong bond between the Baha’i’s and the government.
For instance, after Isfand 1299 coup, Seyyed Ziauddin Tabatabaee participated at Farah Abad palace on Isfand 11, 1299 and introduced the members of its cabinet to Ahmad Shah.
One of the interesting notes in Seyyed Zia’s cabinet is the introduction of Mirza Mahmood Khan Mougherudduleh, one of Ali Muhammad Bab and Abbas Effendi’s relatives as the minister of public benefits and commerce.[3] [5]
Mirza Mahmood Khan was Hassan Mougher Effnan Baluzi’s father. Hassan Mongher Baluzi was of the ex-announcers of Persian BBC radio of London and the founder of this department and of the first class heads of Bahaism. He was also the head of spiritual national assembly of England and the organizer of the first universal congress of the Baha’is.
On Isfand 17, Seyyed Zia appointed Mirza Abdul Majid Ahi, one of Hussein Ali Baha’s relatives as the general manager of the ministry of education, endowments and specialized industries.[4] [6]
Concerning Reza Khan’s relationship and attachment to the Baha’is, the American embassy reported to the ministry of foreign affairs about the emotional influences and the humanism of the Baha’is on Reza Khan since he was serving a simple Cossack in Roshanaee hospital belonged to the Baha’is.[5] [7]
During Reza Khan’s republicanism, Reza Khan provided the facilities for the Baha’i activities. In 1920s A.D., Nabil Al-Duleh tried hard to expand the economic and commercial relationships between Iran and America.
When Reza Khan gained power, he elected his prince’s adjutant among the members of this cult.
Since this period of time, the Baha’is turned to economic and political activities in the framework of official power.
Asadullah Saniee who was one of the first class Baha’is had been elected as the special adjutant of Muhammad Reza. Also, Abdul Karim Ayadi, one of the other Baha’is had been elected as the special physician of Muhammad Reza.”[6] [8]
In this way; during Reza Shah’s Kingdom periods of time, the Baha’is influence was expanding day by day, the intelligent service report introduced the most of influential heads of governmental offices as Baha’is.
According to several documents, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, the prince and his sister Ashraf were educating in the school of the Baha’is.
During Reza khan’s kingdom, the members of the Baha’i cult could gain high-ranking positions in economic and political centers:
– Appointing Einul Molk Hoveyda as the consul general of Syria, Lebanon and Palestine On Khordad 1303 S.H.[7] [9]
– Appointing Badiullah Khan Baha’i, as the chairman of Tehran Grain Warehouse
– Appointing Ne’matullah Khan Alaee Baha’i, as the assistant of warehouse and the management rank of this department whose salary was 124 Tummans.
– Appointing Soltan Yosof khan Baha’i, as the head of Tehran baker’s house advised by Reza Khan.[8] [10]
– Appointing Majid Ahi, Abul Qasem’s offspring and Mirza Majid Ahi’s grandson (Mirza Majid Ahi was Hussein Ali Baha’s sister’s husband) as the assistant of the ministry of education, supreme court counselor, governor of Fars, the minister of road, the minister of justice in Ali Mansour’s cabinet
– Appointing Masoud Soltan, Mougeruddoleh’s brother as the caretaker of the government in Persian Gulf ports to govern the region.[9] [11]
– Appointing the Major General Shoaudduleh, one of the most famous and prominent Baha’is of Iran as the head of the general finance department of the army.[10] [12]
– The return of the Baha’is expelled from the ministry of education to their jobs.
– Suggesting Majid Ali to be the prime minister by Reza khan, but he didn’t accept on Shahrivar 1320 S.H.
– Habib Sabet Pasal, one of the well-known Baha’i heads as the member of the board of trustees of the Baha’i national assembly started his job since Reza Khan’s period of time.
The remarkable note is that since the onset of the coup till the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Baha’is ware gradually increasing the overt activities economically, politically and culturally, although they couldn’t follow their activities more overtly due to the scholars’ resistance and campaigns.
Source: Reza Qaribi, the Baha’i wealthy people and the Pahlavi regime, pp. 43-53.
Keep in touch with us: bahaismiran85@gmail.com [13]
[۱] [14] Muhammad Reza Ashtiyani Zadeh, Reza Khan’s records and 3rd of August/1299 coup, attempted by Sahl Ali Madadi, the contemporary history of Iran periodical, 3rd book, Tehran, 1370 S.H., pp. 106-107.
[۲] [15] Ibid, pp. 115-116.
[۳] [16] Hassan Farahani, the calendar of the contemporary history of Iran, 1st vol., Isfand 3rd, 1299-1300 S.H., Tehran, the institute for political studies and researches, p. 22.
[۴] [17] The Iran news newspaper, 1299/12/19, p.212.
[۵] [18] Muhammad Qoli majd, from Qajar to Pahlavi, 1298-1309 S.H., based on the documents of the American ministry of foreign affairs, Translators: Seyyed Reza Marzani, Mostafa Amiri, Tehran: The institute for political studies and researches, 1289 S.H., pp. 276-277.
[۶] [19] Hussein Fardoust, the emergence and fall of Pahlavi Kingdom, vol. 1, 7th edition, Tehran: Ettela’at, 1374 S.H., p.56.
[۷] [20] The Iran newspaper, No. 1615, p.2.
[۸] [21]The Qanoun newspaper, year 3, No. 60, р.۴
[۹] [22] World War I in the south of Iran (the annual report of the British consulate in Boushehr, 1373, p.138.
[۱۰] [23] Ahang Badi’a, No. 328, 1353 S.H., p. 33.