The Baha’ism organization is an authoritarian one which is exploiting its members having religious appearance while it assumes itself as the supporter of the separation of religion and policy! One of its reasons is the method of establishing, application and the authorities of the Baha’i assemblies.
The managerial and leadership system of Baha’ism is that when the number of the Baha’is living in each city and collage reaches the number of nine, it is necessary for them to establish assembly. Here, we are going to introduce the managerial system of the Baha’ism organization and to criticize it.
In the organization of the Baha’ism leadership there are minor universal house of justice called the assemblies after the major one. After the universal house of justice located at Palestine, there are central assemblies of Baha’ism whose members are elected among the local ones and the members of the major universal house of justice are elected among the minor ones.
After the central assemblies of Baha’ism, there are the city assemblies which are being formed in cities and big regions. The intermediary of the city assemblies with the minor universal house of justice resemble the relationship between the major and minor universal house of justice. After the assemblies of cities, there are local ones which are being formed in villages, and small localities.
The responsibility of the Baha’i assemblies is to supervise all local Baha’i activities such as proselytizing, leading the educational programs, doing publishing affairs and compilation, holding receptions monthly, receiving the Baha’is aids to the system of the leadership of Baha’ism, the management of the funds. Additionally, one of the duties of the national assembly is confirming people’s membership in the community, real estate and publication of Baha’ism.[1]
Criticizing the system of leadership of Baha’ism:
۱- Although Baha’ism is introducing itself as a cordial belief and secular one, but it possesses a coherent and influential leadership system which is meddling with its members’ personal lives, too. Everywhere in the world, the Baha’is are responsible for referring these assemblies and organization and prefer the orders of assemblies and the universal house of justice to any other rules.
۲- The election of the members of Baha’ism assemblies is done secretly without being candidate. 9 people are elected who are 21 years of age or more.[2] Each of these people possesses total authorities to control the Baha’is who belong to their domains.
The members of the national assembly are elected each year by the representatives of the Baha’i community across the country. This election is done in Redhvan feast of the Baha’is.
Nevertheless, the question is that: Is it appointment or election?!!!
۳- No Baha’i can consider him/herself higher than the members of the local assemblies and must obey them without any excuse[3].
Consequently, Baha’ism is an authoritarian organization which is exploiting its members having religious appearance and considering itself as being in favor of separation between religion and policy!
[۱] Dariush Shahrokh and Grace Shahrokh, the principles of the Baha’i religion, translated by Minoo Sabet, Bija: Images International, 1998 A.D., p. 41.
[۲] Cultural Messial, a drop from the Baha’i faith sea: The national institute of the faith press, 113 Badi’a, pp. 14-15.
[۳] Dariush and Grace Shahrokh, the principles of the Baha’i religion, translated by Minoo Sabet, Bija: Image International, 1998 A.D., p. 42.
