One of these institutions which had grasped the economy of our country for a long time was the kingdom Bank of Iran and England. According to one of the researchers' researches: The prince Muhammad Mehdi Mirza Lesanul Adab (Baha'i) was the translator of king Bank in Tehran city.[1] Additionally, Abul Hassan Ebtehaj (Ebtehajul Molk's son, the powerful Baha'i of Gilan and Mazandaran) was working first in the king bank. Later on, he became one of the most powerful financial characters of Pahlavi government.[2]
Badiullah Afnan (Born: 1349 A.D) was the member of Baha'ism assembly in Yazd and Isfahan cities and of the prominent activists of the cult. He learned English language and was employed in the Iranian kingdom bank.[3]
In this way, the relationship and cooperation of the Baha'is with the British embassies and consuls in our country (And also the telegraph office related to Britain) must be mentioned.
Sir Denis Right, the British historian and politician explains in his book that the Baha'is sought asylum to the British consuls and telegraph office in order to be safe against the opponents.[4] Muhammad Reza Ashtiyani Zadeh who was one of the aware politicians of Pahlavi era restates an important note which is worthy to be mentioned: "In the British embassy, if the Iranian was planned to be employed, the Jewish Armenian or Baha'i and sometimes Zoroastrian people was chosen and the followers of Aliullahi cult posting letters, gardening and being servant and slave. The following people are the Baha'is serving in the British embassy: Nabiludduleh (one of the close people to Abbas Effendi and of famous heads of Baha'ism in America) "First, he worked at British embassy.[5]" most importantly, Abdul Hussein Naeemi (Mirza Naeem, famous Baha'i poet's offspring) who was the first secretary of the British embassy.[6] Mirza Naeem Sadehisfahani (127 2-1334 A.H.(, the author of "Golzar naeem" collection of poem. He has been considered as the greatest Baha'i poet. According to Awareh: "He befriended the American Excellency and recently with the British embassy and his son is the first secretary of the British embassy…[7]" Nouruddin Chahardehi writes: Naeem was the Persian language teacher in the British embassy and was commissioned by Abdul Baha to proselytize.[8]"
Sobhi Mohtadi (the former Abbas Effendi's secretary and author) narrates: After World War I and during the years when Britain dominated Egypt and Palestine; he decided to visit Abbas Effendi along with Ibn Asdaq (one of the prominent elements of Baha'ism. He traveled from Iran to Heyfa advised by the British embassy.[9]
Naeemi (1275-1351) was born in Tehran city. He was educated in a Baha'i school called "Tarbiyat" and also in the French, Jewish school called "Alyans" and the American school in Tehran city. He was the member of Baha'ism national assembly in Tehran city and Paris and received various tablets sent by the Baha'i leaders[10]. According to Abdullah Shahbazi[11], he was presented at Jangali lines in 1920 A.D. He was the representative of the Iranian rescue committee headed by Ehsanullah Khan Doustar. He participated at the first congress of the Iranian communist party (in Anzali) and recited the message of the committee.[12]
Abdul Hussein Naeemi is the offspring of Mirza Muhammad Naeem, the Baha'i famous poet (from Foroushan village, Isfahan).
One of the important cases of the cooperation between the Baha'is and the British Colonialism in Iran is the Baha'is influential participation at the British coup, Isfahan, 3, 1299 S.H. which ended in the emergence of seditious Pahlavi regime.[13]
[1]Tazkareh Baha'i, Vol. 3, p. 254.
[2] "Inquiries from the Baha'ism history in Iran…", Abdullah Shahbazi, the Iranian contemporary history, Q. 7, No. 27, Fall, 138, 20.
[3] Amri news, 1350 S.H., p. 182.
[4] Iranians among the British, translated by Karim Emami, p. 285.
[5] Faramoush Khaneh and Freemasonry in Iran, 464.3.
[6] Kashful Hiyal, Vol. 3, edition 4, pp. 213 & 127.
[7] Kawakeb-Al-Dorriah, 192/2.
[8] How was Baha'ism created? P. 93.
[10] Ahang-e-badi'a, year 29 (1353). No. 1 & 2, pp. 26-27.
[11] Inquiries from the Baha'ism history in Iran… p. 50-51.
[12] The appearance of communist party in Iran, Taqi Shahin (Ebrahimov), translated by R. Radnia. Tehran, Gounesh, 1360, p. 211, (narrated by the archieve of the history of science academy of Azerbayjan, the soviet union)
[13] Ayyam magazine, the article "Baha'ism and the Pahlavi regime.