The Suppression of the Baha'is of Iran in 1955

Abstract

This is the translation of that part of Dr Choubine's Introduction to Al Dasht, 23 Sl (23 Years) that deals with the persecutions of the Baha'is of Iran during the reign of Muhammad Reza Shah. It has been published in Persian on the Internet as a separate work and covers such episodes as the forged Dolgorouki memoirs and the collusion between the shah and the highest-ranking cleric of the Shii world, Ayatu'llah Burujirdi, in the campaign of persecutions that occurred in 1955 following the radio broadcasts of Falsafi. Dr Choubine also deals with the role of Ayatu'llah Khomeini, Ayatu'llah Muntaziri and the Hujjatiyyih in this period.

Baha’is in Post-revolution Iran: Perspectives of the Ulema

“…Ayatollah Borujerdi was the one expressing his dissatisfaction to Falsafi in a letter about the relative freedom being enjoyed by the Baha’is throughout the country and instructed Falsafi to have prior consent from the Shah about his anti-Baha’i campaigns, to which the Shah consented (Choubine, 2008, p. 7). Such was the priority to fight the Baha’is that Borujerdi, few years before 1955 incident, had sent his students during the periods of Ramadan and Muharram to various towns and villages to preach and spread hatred against the Baha’is (Schwerin, 2015, p. 16).…”

“…Such was the priority to fight the Baha’is that Borujerdi, few years before 1955 incident, had sent his students during the periods of Ramadan and Muharram to various towns and villages to preach and spread hatred against the Baha’is (Schwerin, 2015, p. 16). According to Bahram Choubine (2008), these activities by the clergies were not just an effort of securing “the foundation of the luminous religion of Islam,” but rather a portrayal of their actual participation behind the 1953 coup d’état 1 1Also known as the 28 Mordad coup, the 1953 coup d’état in Iran witnessed the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh on 19 August 1953. A military one replaced Mosaddegh’s democratically elected government.…”

“…This form of rule continued until its overthrow in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (Mossadegh Foundation, n.d.). and Shah’s restoration to his throne (Choubine, 2008, p. 12).…”

“…In one such letter addressed to the Shah and the new Prime Minister Hossein Ala’ on 29 June 1954, Borujerdi made the following suggestions with regard to the Baha’i community and called on the monarchy to modify the constitution through parliamentary actions: The Baha’i sect must be prevented from propagation [of its teachings] which is against the luminous religion of Islam. Their centers and gatherings, wherever found across the country, must be closed. Any government worker who is not one of the religions mentioned in the Constitution must be expelled after due investigation. Consequently, the Baha’is would fall into this category [and be expelled] (Choubine, 2008, p. 12). …”

“…Any government worker who is not one of the religions mentioned in the Constitution must be expelled after due investigation. Consequently, the Baha’is would fall into this category [and be expelled] (Choubine, 2008, p. 12).…”