The October 1917 Russian Revolution for a while preoccupied the Russians with their domestic issues and prevented them from other hegemonist policies. On the other hand, the Bolshevik doctrine, in the early years of its power, showed no willingness towards encouraging hegemonist tendencies. Therefore, Babism and later Baha’ism which were directly or indirectly under the patronage of the Russian government, clearly fell into the hands of the British government. The Baha’i base in Ashqabad was thus closed down. Qarn-e Badi, one of the reliable sources of Baha’is, writes in this connection:

Queen Victoria, 1819 – 1901

“Colonel Arnold Combal was the consul general of the British government in Baghdad. Noticing the sublime personality of Master Bahaullah, he wrote a friendly note to him asking him to accept the support and citizenship of his government. Being received in audience, he undertook the responsibility of making the required efforts in sending Bahaullah’s letter to the British court if the Master desired to correspond with Queen Victoria. He even proposed that he was ready to provide facilities for the transfer of the residence of the Master to India or wherever he desired.”(1)

In fact, even if this one document had been found on the subserviency of the Baha’is to the British government, it would have been enough. Mirza Hussein Ali Bahaullah stayed in Iraq for 12 years, the first two years of his exile in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdestan and the remaining period in Baghdad. While in the mountains, he would dress as sufis and live among them. A picture is available of him dressed as sufis.

Following the sufferings of the Iraqi Muslims at the hands of the rebellious Baha’is, the Ottoman government upon a request by the Iranian ambassador in Istanbul Mirza Hussein Qazvini, who later became the chancellor, exiled the Babis to the remotest areas of the Ottoman territory. They were later sent to Adrianopole where the Babis refer to as the… secret land. It was in Adrianopole where Bahaullah laid claim to Bab’s mantle as the Awaited One and rejected his brother Mirza Yahya Sobh-e Azal, It is interesting that Combal offered the title of Baron before these claims were raised by Hussein Ali Mirza. When the seditious role of the Babis was revealed to all foreign governments, the French decided to take advantage as well. To this end, the deputy consul of the French embassy secretly met Bahaullah and held talks with him for half an hour. It was in this meeting that the French official, according to Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh, asked Bahaullah to apply for French citizenship so that they could support him.(2) It is obvious that the objective of the British and French governments by offering citizenship to Bahaullah was to dispatch him to areas such as India on behalf of the British and to Algeria on behalf of the French governments in order to promote schism in Muslim land. Otherwise, the Baha\'is had no advantage other than disturbing peace and laying claims to prophethood.

After the Azalis and Baha’is split, Mirza Hussein Ali was sent into exile to Akka where he stayed until he died in 1892 and was replaced by his son Abbas Afandi.

During the leadership of Abbas Afandi, the Ottomans were embroiled in military hostilities with the British, and since Abbas Afandi was an advocate of the British government, he would collect military information in Akka and Haifa. He would also provide the English forces with the required foodstuff.

Foreign Minister Lord Balfour (1848 – 1930)

After the Ottomans found out that Abbas Afandi and his followers were spying for the British government in Palestine and that he was a British mercenary, as Showqi Afandi has asserted in his book Qarn-e Badi the commander-in-chief of the Ottoman government Jamal Pasha decided to execute Abbas Afandi for his espionage acts.(3) But Britain in an open support for Abbas Afandi, commissioned the then Foreign Minister Lord Balfour to send a cable to the commander of the British corps in Palestine General Lord Allenby, stressing protection for Master Abdol Baha (Abbas Afandi), his family and his friends.(4)

The possible arrest and execution of Abbas Afandi was reported to Lord Cruiseden by Jamal Pasha but General Allenby in a pre-emptive action, seized Haifa and cabled to London: “Palestine was seized today. Inform the world that Abdol Baha is alive.”

Abdul Hussein Avareh writes in his book: “Seemingly, the British commander who seized Haifa in 1918 had received the special order to be received in audience by Abdol Baha. That is to say, he had been commissioned by the British empire to meet Master Abdol Baha upon his arrival in Haifa, and the British king decorated him with Knighthood.(5)

Abdul Baha was receiving the medal of Knighthood

Lady Blendid said The English Government according to its usual system for protecting and encouraging the heroes awarded Abdul Baha a medal of knighthood which is ordered by the just King as a sign of honor for him and he accepted it.

In gratitude for receiving the title of ‘Sir’, Abbas Afandi prayed for the grandeur of the British King, George V, and the continuation of his rule in Palestine:

“O God, the royal court has been set up throughout this realm, from East to the West, and I thank you for such a powerful and just kingdom which does its best for the welfare of the people. O Lord! let the great empire of George V, the King of Britain be victorious and make his kingdom everlasting.”

The crystal clear connection between Baha’is and the British government does not end here. In his various interviews arranged during his trips to Europe, Abdul Baha once said in London: “The power which attracted me towards you was the same magnet of your love. The Britons I have met so far had pure souls and were active for the purpose of peace (the British-type peace and the kind of unity to the advantage of the British government). Therefore, London would be suitable for the spread of this task (Baha’ism). (6)

In one of his speeches, quoted from the book Collections of Abdul Baha’s Orations Abdul Baha addresses his English audience and says: “I am satisfied with the people and government of Britain…My coming here, has resulted in consolidation of friendship between Iran and Britain. This friendship will soon reach the extent that Iranians would sacrifice their lives for the sake of Britain.”(7)

Abbas Afandi , after making several trips to Europe and America with the objective of presenting Baha’ism as a common ideal among all religions and all peace-loving nations was warmly received by his masters and finally gave up his ghost in 1921. The diplomatic representative of Britain in the Middle East , sent messages of condolences to the Baha’is.

Herbert Samuel

During his funeral processions high-ranking British personalities such as Herbert Samuel and Sir Ronald Stores were present. On this occasion, the then minister of British colonies Mr. Winston Churchill sent a cable of condolences to Haifa which read: “I hereby convey the sympathy and condolences of His Majesty the King of Britain to the Bahai community. Similar cables have been sent by other high-ranking British officials on this occasion “ .

Britain‘s support for Baha’ism has continued till the present time and comprehensive research works have been conducted by major British universities to explore the possibility of further promotion of this pseudo-religion.

In Akhbar-e Amri magazine, the official publication of Bahai circle, published in 1919, it was reported that Bahai representatives attended meetings of the international union held in Colonge , west Germany

along with high-ranking officials, including the former British prime minister. The same magazine some six years later congratulated the king of England on the occasion of his birthday in an official note sealed by the Baha’i circle and the king in return thanked them.

There are several other instances but generally it could be said that Britain patronized the spread of Baha’ism by encouraging Abdul Baha who was later decorated with medals for his espionage acts. Abdul Baha’s grandson, Showqi Afandi, is buried in London. Today, many Baha’is are active in Britain and have invested in Britain’s economic activities.

Reference: —————————–

1.Qarn-e Badi, vol. 2, page 134, by Showqi Afandi

2.Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh, vol. 1, pages 380-1

3.Qarn-e Badi , vol. 3 , page 291

4.Qarn-e Badi , vol. 3 , page 297

5. Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh, vol. 2, page 305, by Abdul Hussein Avareh

6. Trial of the Zionist Goldziher, page 270

7. Khatabat-e Abdul Baha , vol. 1, page 23

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