Baha'i Faith and Zionism

 In fact, today Zionism carries a general meaning. Zionism is not a religion but rather the combination of a hegemonist ideal and a chauvinist creed, seething with that aspiration. The objective of Zionism, under the garb of Judaism, is something beyond a theocratic rule. In reality, Judaism is a shield for Zionism. With the information we have so far gathered about Bahaism, we can easily find out the close connection between ideals of this schismatic group and those of Zionism. The headquarter of Bahaism is in a land where Zionism was imposed, both according to the hegemonist tendencies of imperialism. There are ample evidences that the old master of imperialism, Britain, has taken care of Bahaism and called for amicable ties between the Bahais and the Zionists.

It is with the same objective that the Canadian widow of Showqi Afandi in 1961, when she was still leading the Bahais, said: “If I could choose, it is worth saying that I prefer this new faith could grow in this new land (Israel). In fact, I should say that our future and that of Israel are connected to each other like rings of a chain.” There are numerous documents available on the close links between Bahai and Israeli leaders but open support like what was mentioned in the above is enough to show the extent of amity between the two sects. The Associated Press, in a report which was printed in Tehran Times on June 20, 1987, reveals open relations between this fabricated faith and Israel:

“Haifa, Israel (AP) – The Israeli government has recognized Israel as the spiritual center of the Bahai faith, which has maintained its headquarters in the Zionist state for more than a century, the group’s leaders said yesterday.

The government also gave the faith the status of a non-profit organization exempt from taxes, paving the way for a 166 million dollar investment in new facilities, a Bahai spokesman said at a news conference.

Energy Barnett, the Los Angeles-born secretary-general of the Bahai faith, said the group would build a complex to house a library and study center in the northern Israel port cities of Haifa and Acre.

The two cities have served as the center for the Bahai faith since 1844, when the religion’s ‘prophet’ and founder Bahaollah fled persecution in which was then Persia, present-day Iran.

Barrett said the new facilities would be financed from small contributions by Bahai members in 140 countries, most of them in the Third World.” After constitution of the Zionism movement conference in 1898 in Bal city Tomansky, Jew orientalist published the holiest book of Bahais which have been collected by Bahaollah founder of Bahaism. In the same year the third conference of history of religion was held in Oxford University and researcher Rozenberg represented his study entitled Bahai-religion and its spiritual and social behaviour. In 1908, Jew Helmut Dryfus published the book of Bahaism, history and its social values in Paris and since then Zionist-Jews’ contributions and donations for constructing the main center of Bahais (Mashreq-ul Azkar-al Bahaian ) in Agra has been going on. From 1909 to 1912 Abbas Afandi (Abdul Baha ) accepted leaders of the Zionism movement in his headquarter located in Mount Carmal ( i.e. president and his wife). (83)

Sir Herbert Samuel

In 1920, when according to an accord signed in San Remo, Palestine was brought under the mandate of Britain, the British government spread its domination in this region and appointed Sir Herbert Samuel, from a famous Jewish family of Britain, as the first High Commissioner in Palestine. Sir Herbert had very close relations with the Bahais and attended Abbas Afandi’s funeral procession with ‘deep’ sorrow. After the rapid influx of Jews to Palestine and Arab uprisings in 1921, the Bahais openly supported the ‘British-Zionist’ plot and protested against any opposition on the part of the indigenous inhabitants of Palestine, the Arab Muslims.

In an official letter to the head of the special commission of the United Nations, Showqi Afandi made no reference to the legitimate rights of Palestinians and those of other Arab Muslims as if he had never been witness to the massacre and torture of thousands of Arabs by the British-Zionist forces . (84)In his message, he claimed that attachments of Jews and Bahais to Palestine were deeper than those of Muslims! The most interesting section of Showqi’s letter is the part that says: “Our objective is to perpetuate a general peace in the whole world and our ideal is to witness promulgation of justice in all aspects of human life, including in political affairs. Since a large number of our followers are of Jewish and Muslim origin, the Bahai sect has no prejudice against the two groups and is rather willing to establish peace and compromise between them to their own advantage and to the advantage of the country.”

In this part of the letter, which seemingly includes progressive ideas, contradictory points could be noticed. First, is it right to refer to making Muslim Palestinians homeless and spying for the British government, as well as meeting Zionist leaders prior to the formation of Israel, promulgation of justice in all aspects of human life? Secondly, is the torture of oppressed Palestinians whose legitimate rights over the sovereignty of their homeland has been violated, the perpetuation of general peace in the whole world for which the Bahais act as a liaison? Another point is that the precedessors of Bahais and Babis were seemingly Muslims and not Jewish, and therefore were ostracized by the Muslims.

Some years after the illegitimate birth of Israel in Palestine on May 14, 1948, the First Secretary of the International Bahai Council wrote a letter to the Bahai circle in Iran on May 3. 1954 in which he reported a meeting between Showqi Afandi and the Israeli president on April 26, 1954 :…………………………………………………………. Image : President of Israel ( 1954 )

“On that historic day, the president and his wife received the First Secretary at the special hall and after a few minutes the president and his companions left for the blessed residence of the Vali-e Amrollah (The guardian ) (Showqi ) who kindly received the president and his entourage. During the unofficial and friendly talks, Vali-e Amrollah ( The guardian ) outlined objectives and ideals of Bahaism and informed him of the friendly feelings Bahais had towards Israel and wished them success and prosperity for Israel. Meanwhile, the president noted that a few years ago when together with his wife he had travelled around the country, he had met Abdol Baha…” In his Tablet Now Ruz 108 Badi, addressing the Bahais, he outlined the opinion of Bahaism on the formation of Israel as follows:

“The evidence of God’s promise to the children of Khalil (Abraham ) and heirs of Kalim (Moses) was revealed and the Israeli government was formed in Qods and established ties with the international center of Bahais. It exempted the Bahais from paying taxes and officially recognized their holidays.”(85) In fact, could the Bahais, followers of a fabricated creed, continue their life without total support from imperialism and Zionism? The international board at Haifa in a letter to the national circle of the Bahais in Iran on July 1, 1952 described Showqi Afandi’s relations with Israel as follows: “Relations of the system with Vali-e Amrollah(The guardian ) and the international board of Bahais are amicable and sincere. In fact, it is quite satisfying that achievements have been gained on the recognition of Bahaism in this holy land.” (86 ) In a cable Showqi Afandi sent to the Bahai circle in Iran on May 4, 1954, he enlisted the newly gained achievements of the Bahais and also referred to his meeting with the Israeli president: ‘The Israeli president together with his wife after a reception” held in their honour at the holy resident of Abdol Baha, met the holy places at Jabal Karmel ( Mount Carmel). This was the first official visit by one of the heads of the European states …”(87)

A letter by the First Secretary of the International Council of Bahais, dated May 3, 1954, is a proof to the fact that the meeting was not a simple religious visit: “ Monday 26, April 1954 , is a historical day for the Bahais because on that day for the first time head of an independent state officially visited the Bab’s and Baha’s shrine and was received by Vali-e Amrollah (The guardian ) ( Showqi Afandi) (88 )

Bahai Support And Financial Assistance Tax For Israel  :

Earlier references had been made to the frequent contacts between the Bahais and heads of the Israeli government but Showqi Afandi’s cable to the American circle of the Bahais on April 24, 1953 is an open example:

“The contents of the ‘blessed’ statement in Persian is as follows: Foundation of an independent government in the holy land ( Israel ) and centralization of the administration of the world embodying rules of Hadhrat Bahaollah, the first manifestation of which is the formation of the international Bahai council and construction of the holy center,…is now possible, thanks to the recent changes ushered by the newly established government. But, it still is in need of new developments and financial assistance due from national and local funds by Bahai societies in the East and the West.”(89 )

Following is the text of Showqi Afandi’s cable to the American Bahai circle on September 24, 1951:

“Inform all the national clerical circles of the Bahais throughout the world that agreements have been reached after lengthy negotiations, with the finance and religious affairs ministries, as well as the Haifa municipality, for the purchase of a plot of 22,000 square meters land valued at about 118.000 U.S. dollars on the slopes of Jabal Karmai in an area overlooking the holy place of Hadhrat (Bahaollah) and the eastern margins of the holy center. The purchase and possession of such a holy territory would help preservation of principles of the holy faith in organizing its followers, and would also enlarge the Bahai administration coming up in the international center for the divine rule in the holy territory. There is a possibility that Israeli heads of state would drop the planned construction of a highway… I intend to transfer some of the documents of the said areas from American and Indian national circles to Israel…”(90) The text of Showqi Afandi’s cable to the American Bahai center on April 3, 1952 is as follows: “Give this good news to the national circles in the East and the West that final formalities for the purchase of 18 plots of lands measuring about six acres beside the holy center have been completed with the Israeli government in return for 118,000 U.S. dollars… Hereby I deem it necessary to appreciate the infatiguable efforts of Mr. Lorenz who was the first pilgrim after the opening of the holy shrine and whose endeavours speeded up the talks..” ( 91)

In the book Historical Places of the Bahais in the Holy Land of Israel it has been mentioned: Finally, the Israeli Treasury issued an announcement which was printed in the country’s official magazine according to which all those who possessed buildings along the holy shrine were divested of their ownership (and ail have been given to Abdol Baha) and it has also been said: “On the occasion of the 135th birthday anniversary of Bahaollah, hereby all eastern and western Bahai societies are informed that lengthy discussions which started two years ago led to the signing of an agreement according to which officials at the Ministry of Development of the Israeli government have transferred large estates located in the vicinity of the holy place of the founder of the Bahai order (Bahaollah), officially to the branch of the national clerical circle of America in Israel, in order to preserve that holy place and its adjacent palace for the future generations to come. These estates which increased the Bahai property in Akka from 4,000 to 150,000 square meters were exchanged with an estate offered by the Bahais.

Bahai Centers in Israel  :

UHJ and Some bahai project on mount carmel (Haifa / Israel )

As it has been previously mentioned, the most important center of the Bahais is the Great House of Justice or the Beit-ul Adl A’zam ( UHJ ) located on the slopes of Karmal mountain in Israel. One of the main residents of the Bahais is also in the city of Akka in which there are certain places which are highly respected by the Bahais including :

1. Sijn-e A’zam ( the great prison ) where Bahaollah

had been imprisoned for two years, two months and

five days (after being sent there to exile from Iraq). The

place is venerated as a shrine. In 1927, the Israeli

government officially recognized the area as one of the

Bahai holy places and therefore it was exempted from

paying due taxes.

2 . Qasr-e Mazra’eh (The Field Palace) , a stone

place where Bahaollah stayed for a while and now is

regarded as one of the Bahai holy places.

3. Beit-e Obood ( The Mansion of Obedience ), a place

where Bahaollah resided for seven years and is close to

the field palace.

4. Bagh-e Rezvan (Garden of Paradise), a garden

where Bahaollah stayed for a while and now is a holy

Bahai place.

5 . Maqbara-e Mobarak va Rozaeh Mobarakeh ( The Blessed Tomb and The Blessed Garden) located in Behji. Bahaollah stayed in this place for twelve years and is buried there. Therefore, the place is of great importance to the Bahais. There is a guest-house in this area to receive the Bahais. The place is opposite to an Israeli military camp called ‘Camp Bin Omay‘.

Another city where Bahais have several holy places, is the port city of Haifa. The city is the center for the administration affairs of the Bahais and, therefore, is more important than Akka. Several Bahai leaders are buried in Haifa including:

1 . Abdol Baha’s brother, known as Ghusn-e

Athar and his mother, known as Khanum Navvab.

2 . Abdol Baha’s sister, Varqeh

3 . Abdol Baha’s wife, Monireh

4. Beit-e Mobarak ( Blessed Mansion) Abdol Baha’s

residence-a Bahai holy place.

5. The office of Beit-ul Adi A’zam ( UHJ ) which remained

the main office until 1939 (and perhaps still is the

same). The place used to be a guest-house for Western

Bahais and is known as the old guest-house for the

Westerners.

6 . Maqam-e A’la’ ( The Supreme Place). The Bahais

believed that the body of Ali Mohammad Shirazi (Bab)

is buried here and is one of the main centers of the

Bahais known as the Bahai Ka’aba. The place is situated

beside Karmal mountain and is surrounded by other

luxurious Bahai buildings in this area.

7 . Dar-ul Aasar Beinolmeiali ( The House of

International Works). The place, designed at the time of

Showqi Afandi, through Israeli cooperation, comprises a stately mansion supported by 50 elegant pillars, each six meters high.

8 . Maqam-e A’la’ ( Lofty Station) guest house, a

residence for all Bahai travellers.

9. Baq-e Rezvan, one of the Bahai centers.

10. Maqam-e Abdol Baha ( Station of Abdol Baha) ,

the burial place of Abdol Baha and an important shrine.

11 . Golestan-e Javid ( The Eternal Garden), a

cemetery in the city of Haifa where Bahai leaders,

except for the old ones, are buried. The place is also

highly respected.

12 . Zamin-e Sharq-ul Azkar a ground near

Maqam-e A’la‘ and one of the Bahai holy places which

is only open on Sundays during special ceremonies.

13. Newly established centers in Haifa.

A ) The building of Dar-ul Tashri Beinolmeiali was

built beside Maqam-e A’la‘ in 1977.

B ) The building of Beit-ul Adi A’zam ( UHJ ) was also

constructed in 1977 upon a decision by the resident

Bahai leaders. The large building comprised 150 rooms.

Attempts By The Bahais And Their Supporters For the Recognition of Bahaism  :

In March 1948, British and Zionist circles and their allies in a bid to support the activities of the Bahais, recognized the Bahai movement as a peace-loving movement and called for its recognition by the world body as a non-state organization like the UNESCO. A year earlier, in the spring of 1947, the national Bahai circle in America and Canada was accepted as a non-state national organization at the general information office of the United Nations and granted an observer status. However, a year after eight other national circles were collectively recognized as the international Bahai society. In 1970, the economic and social council of the United Nations granted a consultative status to the society and on March 8, 1976 it was officially recognized by the UNICEF. In 1972, Bahais residing in Egypt filed a protest against the decision of the country’s high court taken in 1960 which deprived them of all their activities. In their appeal to the state council, the Bahais claimed that the verdict was illegal since Egypt‘s constitution guaranteed freedom of expression for all. The case was handed over to the supreme court which declared that the rulings of the court for the dissolution of all Bahai circles and societies had not been against the constitution and put forward three reasons, backing its declaration.

1 . Guarantees stipulated in the constitution on

freedom of religious observances embody only the three

recognized religions.

2 . Performance of religious rites are controlled and

confined to the limits which would not disturb public

order or harm moral values governing the society. Since

Bahai rites disturb public order in Egypt which is a

purely Muslim state, therefore the constitution

guarantees no support for Bahaism.

3 . According to legal principles, all Bahai societies

and circles are brought within the framework of the

Elections Act which is governed by the Ministry of

Social Affairs. The constitution prohibits formation of such societies whose activities are against the principles of the Egyptian society. According to the rulings of the Supreme Court, Bahaism is outside the pale of a doctrine or a religious ideology and is, therefore, a political group which is regarded as the enemy of the Arab people. However, the Bahais are still making efforts in European and American countries to gain official recognition either as a religious group or as a trade company.

Former UN leader Kurt Waldheim

On August 6, 1976, the then Secretary General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim sent a message through the U.N. envoy in Paris to the Bahai conference there in support of the faith. The reason behind such a support is apparently either Waldheim’s lack of familiarity with the fabricated creeds or his collaboration with colonial powers.

Bahais, Spies of Zionism  :

Bahaism falls outside the pale of a doctrine or a religious ideology and is therefore, a political group which is regarded as the enemy of the Arab people. ( 92 )

Even before Arab countries realized the role Bahaism was playing in the flow of information and its overt or covert assistance to the Zionists and British, politico-religious experts in Iran were fully aware of the case and regarded it as a serious threat. Because , before that there were no such persons as Jewish-Bahai in Iran. It was after close relationship was established between Abbas Afandi and the Zionists that a group of Jews registered their names as Bahais. ‘Israel, the heart of the world’ was a common term invented by Showqi Afandi and frequently referred to by both the Bahais and the Jews, a term which would shield interests of the two groups.(93) Following the expansion of the intelligence network of the Arab states and their sovereignty over their political and economic life and after a serious follow up and collection of sufficient documents revealing the subserviency of the Bahai leaders to the Zionist agents, the Arab League gave priority to the issue of Bahaism on its agenda of Arab sanctions against Israel. The result was that in 1975, Mohammad Mahjoub, the high commissioner of the Arab sanctions offices against Israel while in Damascus referred to Bahaism as a movement advocating Israel and Zionism.

Even, regulations governing the organisation of Bahaism are manifestations of the spying nature of the outfit. For instance, Bahais are the only so-called religious group who have set the condition of registration and preparation of a file in advance for those who wish to join their ranks.

Today, with regard to the number of Bahais and their massive propaganda effort aimed at delivering mortal blows on moral values of the people the world over, and due to their subserviency to Israel and the role the Zionist regime plays in collecting information for the imperialists, it is crystal clear that the complicated structures of Bahaism have not been laid down merely for the sake of an ideology or a religion.

Some bahai project on mount carmel (Haifa / Israel  )

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and disclosure of the activities of the ex-Shah’s information and security organization (SAVAK),(94) which was in itself an organization at the service of imperialism, a remarkable amount of documents were seized which further revealed the role Bahais played in collecting information about the Islamic world and relaying them to Israel. Of course, the real role of the Bahais as the spies of the Zionists has been fully realized by other Arab and Muslim states.

Some SAVAK Documents in This Connection  :

1. Report H6540 dated 47/2/24, Ja’afar Bahzadpour

at the Protocol Commission: “The Iranian nation is

further trying for its progress and has relations with

most of the countries of the world. But some of these

countries, mainly beloved Israel, and some European

states are more famous in the world and we should

further strengthen our ties with them. At present, we

are supporting Israel and opposing Arab and Muslim

states. God willing, the United Nations would recognize

us and then we would further increase our activities.”(95)

2. Report SAVAK H3/10465 dated 46/10/13, recently a group of Bahais have come to Shiraz at the invitation of the national circle of Shiraz in order to conduct a census of all the Bahais and send the result to the national circle and Beit-ul Adl A’zam ( UHJ ) in Israel.

3. Report H9864 dated 47/7/27, Ehsanollah

Mehdizadeh at the meeting of the Bahai leaders: “We

the Iranian Bahais have deposited some one million and

eight thousand tomans in the Beit-ul Adl A’zam fund.

Now the dear Bahais are wealthy and therefore they

should no longer deposit their assets at Iranian banks

but rather in banks in Israel and Britain and allocate the

interest of their deposited money to the impoverished

Bahais.”

4. Report H/14700 dated 49/12/1, text of a letter by

Beit-ul Adl A’zam, was read at a Bahai session as

follows: “We dispatched 14 of the leading Iranian

Bahais for a 25-day mission to Kampala (Uganda) in Africa, London, India and Pakistan. The ‘center of

promise (Haifa) appreciates the efforts you, the Iranian

Bahais, are making. So far, the clerical circle has put

the information gathered about the Arab states and by

our London spies at the disposal of Israel since our

friends have gathered information from each country

they visited and since our friends are fully aware of

what is going on in every country.

References :

83. See TEHRAN TIMES, June 20th 1987, and also essay dated 64.4.28 narrated by Arabia Journal, printed in London

84. The full text of the letter was printed In “Bahai News” weekly in

Sept. 1947, and volume 7 of Akhbar-e Amri

85. Towqiat Mobarakeh Vali-e Amr, page 290

86. Akhbar-e Amri, page 16, 1952

87. ibid, vol. 12, I952

88 . ibid, page 9, 1953

89. ibid , 1951

90. ibid , 1952

91. ibid , 1952

92. Parts of the verdict of Egypt‘s supreme court on Bahaism as a religious minority in 1972. See TEHRAN TIMES 1985, 64.4.28

93. Bahais, page 741

94. SAVAK, the dreadful intelligence organization or the ex-shah’s regime

95. It should be noted that Bahais have their influence in some U.N. sections.