Bahaismiran:

 By weakening clergymen’s power as a religious foundation the opportunity for the presence of the open-minded and non-religious agents such as the Baha’is was provided and a great part of the government’s power assigned to the Baha’is.

In 1340 S.H., when the great Ayatollah Broujerdi (P.H.) died, Shah sent a condolence message for Ayatollah Hakim in Najaf city. Shah felt it was a good opportunity to exit religion completely out of the social affairs.

Also, Eyalati and Velayati associations bill was opposed by Imam Khomeini (P.H.); so Shah exiled him to Turkey and then to Najaf. He became sure that there wouldn’t be any religious organization to confront him. Thus; from that time on, the Baha’is appeared openly in the political and social science of the country.

Some of the most influential Baha’i forces are as follows:

1)   Dr. Abdul Karim Ayadi: he was the offspring of Muhammad Taqi who was born in 1286 S.H., in Tehran city. His father was one of the prominent Baha’is of Iran and of Abbas Effendi’s relatives. He was the special physician of the king. Nearly 25 years, he was working in this post. Fardoust says: I controlled Ayadi jobs. They were 80. I reported to Muhammad Reza. Muhammad Reza complained in my presence. He joked: “I want to have 100 ones[1]”

Ayadi was the main agent of spying England in the Iranian court and the awares one. He played a key role in strengthening the Baha’is positions in Iran. Hoveyda gained power by him. Hundreds of Baha’i officers entered into the army and progressed. During Ayadi’s periods of time, the number of Baha’is increased to three times[2].

In 1344 S.H.; by revealing the clergyman Falsafi and severe attacks to the Baha’is, Muhammad Reza caused Ayadi to exit Iran in order to make the country relaxed. He went to Italy for nine months. Then, Shah took him to Mecca. During 1357 S.H. demonstrations, Shah made him retired. Ayadi went to Sweetzerland[3] and died their due to cancer in 1359[4].

2)   Amir Abbas Hoveyda: His father was the employee in the ministry of foreign affairs and he was also one of the official employees of the ministry of foreign affairs in intelligent service department. Then, he took over responsibilities in the Iranian embassy in France, Germany and Turkey. In 1330 S.H., he was commissioned to work in the United Nations. Late 1336 S.H., he entered into oil company. Next, in 1343 to 1356 S.H., he became the prime minister of Iran helped by Ayadi.[5]

In one of her interview, Farah Pahlavi pointed out Hoveyda’s bond to Baha’ism and said: “Hoveida was consistently inducing Shah that Islam is the religion of Arabs and it isn’t merited for us to obey it. He was asking Shah to omit the paragraph related to the religion of Islam as the formal religion of Iran. He was telling Shah that Baha’ism is an Iranian religion from Iran. He asked Shah for supporting it.[6]

3)   Lieutenant General Saniee: He was Baha’i. He played a key role in strengthening Baha’ism cult along with Ayadi.

In 1344 S.H., the center of the universal house of justice of Baha’ism asked him to resign from the ministry of war while Saniee, Ayadi and Muhammad Reza made the Baha’is accept him to continue his job.[7]

Saniee wasn’t successful to escape from the country. So, he was captured in 1358 S.H. and imprisoned.

4)   Houshang Nahavandi: He was one of the influential people in policy, culture and science of the country. Late Shah’s regime, he became the chairman of Shiraz and Tehran universities.

According to Fardoust: “Since he was a university student; Paris, he was in relationship with the intelligent service of the west and according to SAVAK documents, he was accused to be a Baha’i.[8]

5)   Field Maarshal Shfaqat: He was a Baha’i and the chairman of army staff[9].

6)   Naser Yeganeh: He was the assistant to the public prosecutor of Tehran public prosecutor’s office and the advisor of province court, and the assistant to public prosecutor of the country court and the general manager of the judicial affairs in 1342 S.H. and the representative of Qazvin province in the national council parliament and etc.[10]

7)   Field Marshal Gholam Reza Azhari: He was an influential Baha’i. He was born in 1288 S.H. Imam Khomeini (P.H.) stated when he gained power: “…Don’t be afraid. We are seeking for our right. We are right and God will help us. God’s hand is over the hands of east and west superpowers. “یدالله فوق ایدیهم”

8)   Major General Zarqam: He was one of the Baha’i army commanders. He was a bigoted Baha’i.

9)   Field marshal Fereydoun Jam: He was the offspring of Mahmoud Jam, the first husband of Ashraf Pahlavi and the chairman of the staff of the Iranian army and the ambassador of Iran in Spain.

The ministry of defense of America introduces him as the ex-teacher of Shah and a bigoted Baha’i and the intimate friend of Ayadi in its intelligent service report.

10)               Parviz Sabeti: He was born in 1315 S.H. in Mehdi Shahr, Semnan. He was declaring openly that he was a Baha’i. He became the member of the intelligent service, SAVAK in 1337 S.H. It is worthy to be mentioned that at that period of time, employment of the Baha’is was legally forbidden[11]. After the Islamic Revolution, he went to Egypt and attacked the active Islamic groups of Egypt.[12]

11)               Ali Muhammad Varaqi: He was the offspring of Valliullah Varaqi. He was born in 1290 S.H. He participated at a conference in the South America in 1958 A.D. as the representative of Baha’is. He travelled to Baqdad and Beirut ordered by Abdull Baha. He passed most summers in Israel.[13]

12)               Maliheh Naeemi: She was Colonel Khosrawani’s wife and of the agents of Mordad 28, 1332 S.H. coup. She was the offspring of Abdul Hussein Naeemi, one of the main agents of Baha’ism.

13)               Abdul Hussein Naeemi: He was Mirza Muhammad Naeem’s son and famous Baha’i poet. He was of the employees of the British embassy. He continued his cooperation with the intelligent service of the British embassy in Tehran. He played a destructive role in jungle movement[14].

14)               Parviz Khosrawani: HE was the commander of gendarmerie of the center district during Khordad 15, 1342 S.H. massacre.[15]

15)               Leili Amir Arjmand: The special counsellor of Farah and the manager of educational programs of Shah.

16)               Dr. Abbas Shahqoli: Colonel Shahgoli’s son and the minister of public health and the minister of science.

17)               Farrokhrou Parsa: She was the minister of education.

18)               Mansour Rowhani: The minister of water and electricity and agriculture

19)               Abbas Aram: the minister of foreign affairs.

20)               Gholam Reza Kiyan pour: the minister of justice

21)               Manouchehr Taslimi: The minister of commerce and intelligent service

22)               Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Khademi: The general manager of the Iranian national airline (Homa)