Baha’i marauders

(Asadullah Saniee)

Author: Fatemeh Pahlavan Pour

Republished by: Bahaismiran

Major general Asadullah Saniee is of first level faces in Baha’ism. During Reza Pahlavi’s era, he was a lieutenant and during Mohammad Reza’s period of kingdom, he was his chamberlain. He had a strong and key role in strengthening the Baha’i positions in the military foundations of the Pahlavi regime.

Asdullah Saniee was Aqa Khan’s son and was born in Hamadan city in 1283. His father –Mirza Aqa Khan- was Agha Rashid’s offspring who was of esteemed ones in King Mohammad and king Naseruddin’s courts. King Naseruddin was so intimate with him that called him “Aqa Amou”. Asadullah was the first offspring of the family selected “Saniee” as his surname and the other members of the family –Parviz, Mah Manzar, Mah Tala’t and Mah Monir- selected Rahidi as their surnames. Asadullah Saniee got married with Touran (Tourandokht) Parvini and had four offspring named Bahman, Bijan, Maryam and Jaleh.[1]

Magor general Saniee’s jobs:

He joined the army in Mehr, 1, 1305 and graduated from officer’s collage in 1307. Saniee’s occupations before the coup Mordad, 28, 1332: The chairman of king’s military office in complain district (at the beginning of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s kingdom), the chairman of inspection in military service office, a member of inspection board in Sepah Bank, the inspector of the Sepah Bank, the top inspector in administrative and financial affairs, the general inspection of the army and the assistant of ministration of national defense (Isfand, 10, 1331 until Mordad, 28, 1332) in Dr. Mohammad Mosadeq’s government.

Saniee’s professions from Mordad 28, 1332 till 1340: the director general of the cooperative of the army, the chairman of supply department of the army, the chairman of the cooperative of military forces and war ministry.[2]

Saniee and Mosaddeq’s relationship

The noticeable issue regarding the biography of Asadullah is his trust to Mosaddeq. In spite of Saniee’s attachment to the court and Baha’ism. Mosaddeq appointed him as the minister of defense. Maybe, the secret bonds between Saniee and Hussein Ala has been the reason for it.[3]

Major general Saniee had devotion towards Mosaddeq, too to such an extent that he has admired Mosaddeq in every part of his diary book. He writes: “The king imprisoned Mosaddeq in Mordad 29, 1332 at the beginning of his second round of his kingdom provided by the coup Mordad 28, 1332 (by Kim Roosevelt). He was also sentenced to death. In spite of Dr. Mosaddeq’s fatherly advice during 20 years, the majesty banished the dignitaries as a dictatorial method.”[4]

Major general Saniee writes to indicate Mosaddeq’s grandeur: “which respectable contemporary politician can ignore the greatness of Dr. Mosaddeq’s movement; additionally, he is known in the world as one of heroes of the Orient in nationalizing oil and expelling English people. It is unfortunate the Iranian history course was changed due to the English and American coup of Mordad 28, 1332.”[5]

Saniee and capitulation:

Saniee became the major general when Asadullah Alam was the prime minister and then he became war minister in the cabinet. He kept that post during the period of time when Hassan Ali Mansour and Amir Abbas Hoveyda were prime ministers.[6]

The major general saniee had an important role in providing the capitulation bill and he also tried hard to pass the bill during the prime ministry of Hassan Ali Mansour.

Saniee’s Beliefs:

The role of the major general Saniee in strengthening of the position of Baha’i cult in the military structures of Pahlavi regime was so important that is worthy to be analyze along with investigating the extent of Baha’is influence and presence indifferent political, economic and cultural parts during the Pahlavi regime.[7]

Apart from Saniee’s attachment to Baha’ism his extreme willing towards England and his relationship with it was quite known. His willing towards England was so extreme that he sent his pregnant wife to England in order for his offspring to receive English citizenship.[8]