The persecutions from which the Persian friends are now suffering
represent, indeed, the culmination in the long and nation-wide campaign
which the authorities in that country have during the last two years
launched against the Faith. In many of its aspects this campaign is
reminiscent of the persecutions suffered by the early Babis,...
The first incident which led to this outburst of fierce antagonism on the
part of the Government was in connection with the Tarbiat Schools in
Tehran. The school authorities having, after due consultation with the
N.S.A. and in strict conformity with the principle governing the
observance of Baha'i holidays, decided to close the schools on the
occasion of the celebration of the anniversary of Bab's martyrdom, the
authorities in the capital immediately issued orders that the schools be
permanently closed, and that also no public meetings of any kind be held
by the believers. This has been done in spite of the fact that other
religious communities, such as the Muslims and the Zoroastrians, are
allowed to celebrate their own feasts, and as such enjoy full religious
freedom. Similar orders were issued to the believers in all other parts of
Persia, with the result that today the friends find their activities in
Persia completely paralyzed. Their schools have all been definitely
closed, their meetings suspended, their correspondence intercepted, and
their assemblies and committees for the most part dissolved.
The situation, as it stands at present, is highly disconcerting. The
friends, however, faithful to the injunctions of the Master regarding
obedience to government in all administrative matters as distinguished
from those affecting their conscience and loyalty to the Cause strictly
adhere to the laws and orders of the government. Their sole hope is the
assurance that in due time all these restrictions are bound to
disappear....
In the meantime, the Guardian would urge all the friends to patiently and
prayerfully wait until these sad happenings take their due course. For the
history of the Cause, particularly in Persia, is a clear illustration of
the truth that such persecutions invariably serve to strengthen the
believers in their faith, by stimulating the spiritual powers latent in
their hearts, and by awakening in them a new and deeper consciousness of
their duties and responsibilities towards the Faith. Indeed, the mere
progress of the Cause, by provoking the hatreds and jealousies of peoples
and nations, creates for itself such difficulties and obstacles as only
its divine spirit can overcome. Abdu'l-Baha has emphatically stated that
the enmity and opposition of the world will increase in direct proportion
to the extension and progress of the Faith. The greater the zeal of the
believers and the more striking the effect of their achievements, the
fiercer will be the opposition of the enemy.
Many are the passages in the Writings of Baha'u'llah wherein He
foreshadows the persecutions awaiting His Faith. But side by side with
such emphatic predictions is the assurance that out of these sufferings
and trials His Cause will emerge triumphant and purified. May we not,
therefore, gather strength from such an assurance, and with hearts filled
with confident and joyous hope arise to fulfil our part in the
establishment of His Cause?