(Rahim Nikbakht )
(Documented )
One of important issues in Iranian contemporary history is
Baha\'ism .Direct and indirect relationship of Bahai\'s with aliens ,
their role and effect on anti –Islamic policies of Pahlavi era such as
unveiling of women and economic dominance on community
pillars , the dominance of Bahai agents in administrative , military
and political establishments of Iran are of important issues and are
worthy to be investigated , which are belonged to this cult .But
Azerbaijan has been important in activities of Bahai programs .In
late Sobhi\'s memoirs , there are rather accurate reports about
expansive activities of Bahai\'s in the eve of World War I in
Azerbaijan .According to the other documents and resources , we
will familiarize with activities of Bahai\'s in Pahlavi era .
According to the existing documents of Archive of the center
of Islamic revolution documents , we will review untold realities
about the activities of Bahai\'s in Azerbaijan .The selection of
documents is too difficult because of numerous and massive
documents and various activities of Bahai\'s all over Iran specially
in Azerbaijan .While , this writing can be a start for more accurate
reviews in this regard .
Ten-year plan
As the accurate date of Bahai activities and their struggles
hasn\'t been clear so far , our information about the quality of Bahai
activities isn\'t enough , too . One of debatable issues is \'\'The new
plan of the great divine jihad \'\' .This ten-year program has begun
since 1332 and has continued till 1342 .It is stated in available
reports that this program has been successful . Unfortunately ,
there isn\'t any report about the quality and quantity of different
activities of Bahai\'s in this ten-year program .In this ten-year
period , a lot of changes have happened that were related to the
expansion and influence of the activities of this cult .How often ,
some purposes of Islamic revolution by the leadership of Imam
Khomeyni (P.H) in 1341 should be inferred as an answer to these
changes .The police reports about Bahai\'s in the eve of the
beginning of Islamic revolution in Tabriz indicate the expansion of
the activities of this sect –later Bahai ten-year program .it is stated
in a report related to the end of 1340:
\'\'it had been announced by governor\'s office in Azerbaijan
dated 19/10/1340 , no:2404 that according to reports
announced to governor\'s office the activities of Bahai\'s has been
intensified recently in Azerbaijan and they are busy doing their
religious proselytism that according to usual , necessary
researches it became obvious that Bahai\'s gather each other and
do religious activities thrice a week in their coteries ….\'\'
These expansive activities provoked the sensitivity of religious
forces in Tabriz ; so that ,late Haj MIrza Hassan Naser Zadeh and
Haj Mirza Hossein Anzabi Chehrgani .Two enthusiastic preaches
made speeches in lunar month of Ramadan nights in 1340 against
Bahai\'s .This report adds :
\'\' … In addition to sermonizing , they make speeches against
Bahai\'s and their influences in governmental offices and their
growing activities , too in mosques in different days … .\'\'
By sending this report to Intelligence service of Police office of
the country , one of high ranking officials of army writes a letter
for one of high ranking officials of police office of the country :
\'\'Isfand , 12, 1340
General Kramti
It is reported from Tabriz that you will become aware orally.
It is certain that necessary and appropriate commands should be
issued in order for any measures against the tranquility of the
people of country to be prevented and these seditious .
Demagogic people will be punished .General\'s justice
nurturing and advice will cause increasing thank to you by
myself and some real servants of the holy land .\"
Major General
Signature
Writing such letter of recommendation contrary to
administrative tradition of police office , is a definite document of
the extent of influence of Bahai\'s in sensitive centers of the
country. In this letter it is recommended to have a serious behavior
with Hojat-al-Islam Naser Zadeh and to be lenient with Bahai\'s .
Another document related to Isfand 1341 , that is the end of
10-year program of Bahai\'s , brigadier general Ataee the chairman
of police offices of eastern Azerbaijan announced to subordinate
police offices and police stations :
\'\'According to the command from the center , the received
reports from some cities indicated that the activities of Bahai\'s
have increased recently and the agents and missioners of this cult
are active in deluding and deviating people through different
Methods ; so, this issue was announced to ministry of state and
SAVAK .They answered that according to the rule 121 of
constitution , the associations and gatherings which cause
religious or mundane sedition and destroy discipline are banned.
Thus , according to the issued command from the ministry of state,
these harmful activity and demonstration of the mentioned cult
must be prevented by the aid of SAVAK and the result must be
reported .\'\'
This notification issued from Tehran was more likely related to
clergymen\'s campaign leaded by Imam Khomeyni (P.H) and
Eyalati and Velayati association bill in which King\'s regime was
trying to give indirect formality to Baha\'ism cult .
Nine-Year Plan
In continuation of 10-year plan , the global center of Bahai\'s
designed and executed a plan called \'\'The great 9-year plan \'\'that at
the beginning of the year 1343 Bahai coteries have to conduct it.
Fortunately , in existing documents , there are more awareness
about this program .According to \'\'The greatest Bait-al-Adl\'\'
method , it is necessary for all Bahai\'s to relinquish \'\'all local
requirements and materials and their material and carnal interests
and cooperate to perform the aims of this global plan personally
and with pure intention by donating the maximum financial aid .\'\'
According to separate commands , it was necessary for Bahai
coteries in all over the country to prevent constructing new
building and they were allowed to do essential repairs in order
to prevent destroying and instead they should pay for Bahai
centers.
To execute this 9-year plan , some plans were formed that they
were sending their moment by moment report of activities to
Bahai\'sm center .Some of their purposes will be clarified by the
instructions issued to Bahai coteries and some parts of it are
reflected in reports of police office of Azerbaijan including the
influence in all parts and regions of Azerbaijan , dominating on
productive agricultural lands gradually and also influence among
the tribes of Azerbaijan and other regions .It is stated in one of
their commands to spiritual coterie of Tabriz dated Day, 1343:
\"We ask that holy coterie if you feel on issue will promote the
issue of publication of Nafahat Allah publically or in group or
you feel import Kalemat Allah among tribes in that district that
need establishing special department for it , please order to
establish it and inform the results .\'\'
In another issued instruction , Bahai coterie of Mahabad is
allowed to buy a house in Oshnevieh region in order to proselytize
among Kurdish people because of executing the aims of 9-year
plan .
Other goal of this program was dominating on agricultural
lands of productive regions of Azerbaijan .It is ordered to spiritual
coterie of Tabriz in Day/30/1343:
\'\'That holy coterie is completely aware of Chehriq conditions
and its lands in that organization .Please order some people who
can farm on lands to be dispatched to that place to dominate
gradually on the lands .\'\'
It is revealed from the other commands that Bahai\'sm global
coterie has been extremely enthusiastic about collecting every kind
of published and handwritten books concerning tribes of different
regions of Iran specially in Azerbaijan and also establishing
Baha\'ism coteries among tribesmen of small or big villages .
Proselytism In Educational and Cultural
Centers :
In investigating the available documents in Baha\'ism case in
police office of Azerbaijan , more realities of the aims of Baha\'ism
9-year program will be reveled .Bahai\'s was trying to penetrate in
educational and cultural centers .In the oldest document which is
available related to 1329 , it is said that a Bahai teacher was
commissioned to teach in Ivaqli village on behalf of Bahai coterie
in Tabriz .He had to leave the area because of created sensitivity.
Penetration in educational centers was predicted in 9-year
program .The university of Tabriz and education offices of
Azerbiajan were suitable places for activity .In last years of 9-year
program , Bahai\'s became successful in Tabriz university and some
other coteries .It is written in a report of 1350:
\'\'The Bahai student youth\'s meeting held from 7 to 9 p.m.
in major Dr.Bargh Asa\'s house who is an officer in army in Tabriz.
Some deans , masters of university including the assistant of
medicine collage and Mr, Dr.Mir Aftabi had participated in the
meeting .\'\'
In another report , it has been pointed out the trick of using
girls and women for proselytism which has been used at university
and education office:
\'\'The followers of Bahai cult have intensified their
propagandistic activities at university and education office or
other offices in Tabriz using Bahai women and girls .\'\' In
continuation of the report it has been pointed out the names of
people who were active in different cultural centers including
\'\'the instructor of an elementary school and kindergarten .\'\'
We read in another activity done in Tabriz university :
\'\'The received news indicates that some Bahai students who
are educating in different collages in Tabriz , have openly
proselytize Baha\'ism recently .Including a person called Masood
Faqanian whose father is the executing manager of ZamZam
companies in Shiraz accompanied by Ms, Ansari who is a typist
in Water organization and is a Bahai that both of them
proselytize Baha\'ism in society .\'\'
Some reports about open activities and proselytism of Baha\'ism
had received from Tabriz university , Water organization ,
municipality and education office . The available documents
indicates that the activities of Bahai\'s has been growing gradually
specially in educational and cultural centers .It is stated in a report
of earlier 1350 :
\'\'according to received news , Ms , Parsa , the manager of
health institute of \'\'Shir and Khorshid \'\' hospital in Tabriz , has
proselytized Baha\'ism and the students of health pension house
have accepted Bahai sect .She pays attention to these students .She
allows them to participate to Bahai meeting in Mr , Astani\'s house
located in Kheyrieh alley every Mondays ; so that , in these
ceremonies the number of girls who are followers of this cult has
been 25 people .This issue has made Muslim girls unhappy and
despondent .Additionally ,. When Bahai girls are on vacation, their
duties are taken over and referred by Muslim girls.\'\'
Because the activity of Bahai\'s was programed and done
carefully , their aims were achieved .For example , in a report of
1354 , the names of six Bahai teachers have been registered who
proselytize in their classes openly .It is obvious that such activities
has reflection in religious situation of Tabriz .Although we are not
going to speak about the reflection of religious people against
Bahai activities ,while it is written in this report :
\'\'…Several bigoted people of Tabriz including 1-Haj Khalil
Khouee , 2-Vahdat (preacher) , 3-Sharif Pour (tool seller) 4-
Payandeh (teacher of education office ) are going to refer ,
complain and ask for the governor\'s offices and education office in
order to prevent the activity and proselytism of Bahai\'s .It should
be planned not to allow these people work in administrative jobs .
The Growing Influence and Expansion
By the influence of Bahai\'s in different levels of the pillars of
Pahlavi kingdom government we observe their growing freedom of
action :
\'\'Several passengers from Tabriz were sitting and speaking in a
café in rail road square at 10 a.m. 26/6/1347 .They were speaking
about the owner of car making company of Tabriz who is a Bahai
fires some workers every day employs new ones .The workers of
company are unsatisfied with the owner and are going to send
some workers on behalf of them to kingdom inspection office in
Tehran in order to complain .\'\'
And in another document , the news about establishing a
school for teaching Baha\'ism for Bahai infants by Tabriz coterie
has been announced .Some same cases are found in documents
abundantly .
The year 1352 was an active one for activity of Bahai\'s in
Azerbaijan .One of their struggle in that year was printing and
distributing anti-Islamic books in Tabriz a person called \'\'Chitsaz \'\'
had transferred these books to Tabriz and had distributed them \'\'in
the market and different parts of the city .\'\'In continuation of these
activities , the attentions of Coca cola company \'\'hives a huge
amount of money to one of Bahai missioners every month in order
to spend for Baha\'ism proselytism .\'\' He is successful in doing this
task . Another report exists to complete this report :
\'\'A received news indicates that Mr, Chitsaz who lives in
Tehran is intermediary between Tehrani Bahai\'s and other cities of
Iran .He has traveled from Tehran to Tabriz in 2/8/1352 and has
resided in Mr, Zehtab , a dentist , for two days and has received
200000 Tumans which had been sent to the fund of Bahai
documents of Tabriz by Zam Zam company .Meanwhile , he had
an appointment with engineer Saedi the chairman of electricity
power plant and spoke .He has left Tabriz to return Tehran in
4/8/1352.\'\'
According to this report , if this sum had been monthly paid to
other big cities of Iran , a huge amount of money would have paid
for proselytism of Baha\'ism .On the other hand , they have spent
300000 Tumans since 1352 to 1357 .The important issue is that
Zam Zam company have been one of hundreds of active small or
big companies of Iran belonged to Bahai\'s before Islamic
revolution .
Relationship with Aliens
The influence of the expansion of Bahai\'s in cultural centers
and dominance of important and key posts of the country ,
encouraged them to state their dependence to aliens fearlessly and
honored them .What is reflected in documents and reports of police
office of eastern Azerbaijan are of numerous obvious declarations.
There is a document concerning the year 1348:
\'\'It is reported that several Bahai people reside in Israel country
and several people such as Rouh Allah Moshtaq from a village
\'\'Sisan \'\' nearby Tabriz has plyed to that country .The aids have
been assigned to Israel country by this cult through these people.
Meanwhile , Bahai\'s who possess installations and factories are
using devices and tools made by Israel .The Bahai\'s of Azerbaijan
and other cities help the economy of indirectly by purchasing these
equipment .
An important issue is that according to SAVAK documents,
Ayat Allah Qazi Tabatabaee was going to go to \'\'Sisan \'\' village
accompanied with people to pray \'\' Fetr feast prayer \'\' there that
police official prevented them .It is interesting to note that in
orations of Fetr feast prayer of that year , Ayat Allah Qazi
Tabatabaee attacked severely to occupier regime in Maqbareh
mosque .Following this issue he was exiled from Tabriz to Baft
and then to Zanjan for a year .After exiling , it becomes rumored
that his exile was asked for by Bahai\'s and the Jewish ; meanwhile
Iranian government supports Israel and sends financial aids to that
country .
The relationship of Bahai\'s with alien countries is not a
deniable issue especially when they possessed a strong power ,
influence and good situation in political , economical and social
field and they honored this relationship , too .It is reported in one
of reports of police office in eastern Azerbaijan to Intelligent
Service :
\'\'as informed , a person called Shahram Isakhani a junior
student of mathematic course in science collage of Azerbaijan
encourages other students to accept Baha\'ism cult and declares
that Russian and English government pay to Bahai\'s secretly in
order to strengthen Bahai committee .we will support and help
Bahai people especially those who join this sect concerning
providing dwellings and life expense aids .\'\'
In evaluating of above mentioned report it is written that \'\'it is
investigable \'\' ; but in brief mentioned above report which has been
sent to intelligent service office of police force of the country and
the chairman of SAVAK , it is written in its evaluation that
\'\'proselytism is correct \'\'.