Jump to content

Baháʼí Faith in Azerbaijan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Part ofa serieson the
Baháʼí Faith
Central figures
Basics
Key scripture
Institutions
History
People
Places
Other topics

The history of theBaháʼí Faith in Azerbaijanis complex and intertwined with various developments in the country's history. Through that series of changes the thread of theBaháʼí Faithtraces its history in the region from the earliest moments of theBábí religion,accepted by Baháʼís as a predecessor religion. Followers of the religion formed communities inNakhichevanbefore 1850.[1]By the early 20th century the community, by then centered inBaku,numbered perhaps 2000 individuals and several BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assembliesand had facilitated the favorable attention of local and regional,[1]and international[2]leaders of thought as well as long-standing leading figures in the religion.[3]However under Soviet rule the Baháʼí community was almost ended[4]though it was quickly reactivated as more than 30 years later whenperestroykaloosened controls on religions. The community quickly rallied and re-elected its own National Spiritual Assembly in 1992.[5]The modern Baháʼí population of Azerbaijan, centered in Baku, may have regained its peak from the oppression of the Soviet period of about 2000 people, today with more than 80% converts,[6]although the community in Nakhichevan, where it all began, is still seriously harassed and oppressed.[7]TheAssociation of Religion Data Archives(relying onWorld Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 1,685 Baháʼís in 2010.[8]

Beginnings

[edit]
Geopolitical map

The history of the religion in Azerbaijan commenced when the area was under the rule of theRussian Empire.During the regional independence movementsduring the Russian Civil War,continuingPrometheismefforts and more recently since theDissolution of the USSR,there were also developments and changes.

Earliest phase

[edit]

A group of members of the Bábí religion formed in Nakhichevan and spread before 1850[1]largely of Persian expatriates who were fleeing persecution in Persia.[4]The Russian army, under the command of GeneralVasili Bebutov,attacked the new community which formed so quickly and is thought to have included more than ten thousand people.[1]

Growth during the Bábí and early Baháʼí periods

[edit]

From 1850 on small communities established themselves inOrdubad,Baku,Balakhani,Ganja,Barda,Goychay,Salyan,Khilli (presentNeftchala),Shaki,Shamakhy.[1]Soon the community of Baku counted the largest number of believers in the region and in 1860 obtained official recognition from the authorities. The community recognized the newly announced position ofBaháʼu'lláh.Soon there was more public awareness and some favor from leaders of the broader community and at the same time the Baháʼí community of Baku broadened its communication with other Baháʼí communities inRussia,TurkeyandAshkhabadand did much work printing materials inTurkish.[9]Musa Naghiyev(1849–1919), one of Azerbaijan's richest citizens at the time,[1]is considered to have been a Baháʼí by some modern sources,[10][11][12]while others state that he was a Muslim.[13][14]He donated to Islamic charities[15][16]and received an Islamic burial,[16][a]but he participated as a member of the BaháʼíSpiritual Assemblyof Baku.[10][11][12][17]There were also many public figures before and after who seem to have admired the religion or even been members of it.

Maximum extent of the early community

[edit]

Circa 1902 relations with the government were good but with the general population "…we have no satisfactory tranquility on account of the people."[4]and the Baku assembly was now also in contact with Baháʼí communities in the United States.[18]BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assemblieswere elected in Balakhani, Baku, Ganja, Barda, and Salyan.Charles Mason Remeytraveled there in 1908 and describes the community briefly.[19]The community may have peaked at about 2000 people, second only to that of Ashqabad - seeBaháʼí Faith in Turkmenistan.The Nakhjavani family played many and major roles in the Baháʼí Faith before and in the coming decades.

The father of the family, Mirza ʻAli-Akbar Nakhjavani, translated communications to and fromLeo Tolstoyc. 1890s[2]and assistedʻAbdu'l-Baháin his travels to the United States in 1911–12.[3]The children of Ali-Akbar included Jalal, born in 1917, andAliin 1919. After his death c. 1920–1, the family was invited to take up residence in Haifa and Ali-Akbar's wife and sister worked as attendants in the house of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá after his death, assisting the many pilgrims who came there. Both children grew up eventually attendingBeirut University[3][20]and moved to a variety of places to help spread the religion. Both initially moved back to Iran and then Africa. Jalal went toDar-es-Salaam,Tanzaniaand then years later inHamburgWest Germanyand helping to found the assembly ofNeumuensterand then finally inSelkirkCanadawhere he soon died, though he traveled and spoke to groups until his last days. Ali helped spread of the religion across fromUgandathrough central Africa toCameroonand in 1963 would be elected to theUniversal House of Justiceand was re-elected and served 40 years before retiring.[20]

First oppression

[edit]
A Baha'i "character building" class in Baku, 1926 shows a group of Baha'i children receiving instructions in the principles of character training.[citation needed]

From 1922 Soviet officials launched their initial campaigns against the Baháʼís including deportation of Baháʼí Iranian citizens to Iran and the exile of others to Siberia, publications and schools were banned, as well as collective meetings.[1]Regardless, a new wave of national organization was achieved with the election of the regional National Assembly of the Baháʼís of the Caucasus and Turkistan in 1925.[4]However, in 1928 orders were dispersed among the Baháʼí communities suspending all meetings, and suppressing all local and national administration. Prohibitions were placed on the raising of funds, and Baháʼí youth and children's clubs were ordered closed.[4]By about 1937 only the assembly of Baku and Ashgabat were still functioning though the membership of the Baku assembly had been elected three times in two years because the first two set of members were arrested en masse and exiled to Siberia. The third set was mostly women.[21]In 1937, with theNKVD(Soviet secret police) and thepolicy of religious oppressionthe Soviets began a sweep against the Baháʼís on October 13 and in a few days all the members of the spiritual assembly of Baku and dozens of others were arrested. The chairman was executed. It wasn't until 1956 when the Spiritual Assembly of Baku started to function again after a fashion but by the end of 1963 was ranked as only a community, not an assembly.[22]The regional National Assembly of the Caucasus and Turkistan was disbanded.[4]

Second oppression

[edit]

In November 1982 there were systematic sweeping arrests by theKGBincluding of S.D. Asadova, I.F. Gasimov, and I.G. Ayyubov who were interrogated for 7 hours continuously and had to write 10-page explanations. They were prohibited from telling anybody about their arrest and meetings of the community were ended.

From Perestroyka

[edit]

By 1987, Baháʼís had almost disappeared in the Soviet Union. AsPerestroykaapproached, the Baháʼís began to organize and get in contact with each other. From 1988 the Baháʼís inMoscowandAshqabadand then in Baku became active (see alsoBaháʼí Faith in Ukraine.) With more than 20 Baháʼís in Baku at that time only three went to the State Department of Religion of Azerbaijan, for fear of arrests, in order to announce their intention to re-establish the Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of Baku. By the end of 1990, after 50 almost years, the election for the Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of Baku was held, followed byGandjaandBarda.In 1991 the Spiritual Assemblies were re-elected inSalyanandBalakhani.In 1992 the Parliament of Azerbaijan adopted the law of religious liberty and Baháʼís gained an opportunity to officially register communities and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of Azerbaijan was elected, which had been effectively disbanded since 1938.[5]In 1993 the Governing Board of the Ministry of Justice of the Azerbaijan Republic gave official permission for the functioning of the Baháʼí Community of Baku.

The Baháʼís of Baku are seeking the return of property confiscated during the Soviet era—especially a house that served as theBaháʼí Center.[7][23]The Baháʼí population of Azerbaijan, centered in Baku, may have regained its peak from the oppression of the Soviet period of about 2,000 people, with more than 80% converts.[6]In 2005 theAssociation of Religion Data Archives(relying in part on theWorld Christian Encyclopedia) estimated somewhat fewer Baháʼís at about 1,500.[24]Influence from Turk, rather than Russian or Iranian, Baháʼís seems to be playing a leading role among conversions of Azerbaijanis. However, the small Baháʼí Nakhichevan community is harassed by the authorities and they lack freedom of association. A leading Baháʼí was arrested in 2004.[7][25]Officials claimed he was not imprisoned for his religious beliefs though officials extracted a verbal promise from him not to speak further of his religion to anyone.

TheAssociation of Religion Data Archives(relying onWorld Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 1,685 Baháʼís in 2010.[8]

See also

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^Naghiyev also had hoped to be buried in theShia Muslimholy city ofKarbala,though he was not.[16]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Soli Shahvar; Boris Morozov; Gad Gilbar (30 November 2011).Bahaʼis of Iran, Transcaspia and the Caucasus, The Volume 1: Letters of Russian Officers and Officials.I.B.Tauris.ISBN978-0-85772-068-9.

References

[edit]
  1. ^abcdefgBalci, Bayram; Jafarov, Azer (2007-02-21),"The Bahaʼis of the Caucasus: From Russian Tolerance to Soviet Repression {2/3}",Caucaz,archived fromthe originalon May 24, 2011
  2. ^abStendardo, Luigi (1985-01-30).Leo Tolstoy and the Baháʼí Faith.London, UK: George Ronald Publisher Ltd.ISBN978-0-85398-215-9.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-06.Retrieved2008-12-24.
  3. ^abcUniversal House of Justice (1986).In Memoriam.Vol. XVIII. Baháʼí World Centre. pp. 797–800.ISBN0-85398-234-1.{{cite book}}:|journal=ignored (help)
  4. ^abcdefHassall, Graham (1993)."Notes on the Babi and Baha'i Religions in Russia and its territories".The Journal of Baháʼí Studies.05(3).Retrieved2008-06-01.
  5. ^abHassall, Graham."Notes on Research on National Spiritual Assemblies".Research notes.Asia Pacific Baháʼí Studies.Retrieved2008-12-21.
  6. ^abBalci, Bayram; Jafarov, Azer (2007-03-20),"The Bahaʼis of the Caucasus: From Russian Tolerance to Soviet Repression {3/3}",Caucaz
  7. ^abcU.S. State Department (2006-09-15)."International Religious Freedom Report 2006- Azerbaijan".The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affair. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-09-19.Retrieved2008-12-22.
  8. ^ab"Most Baha'i Nations (2010) | QuickLists | The Association of Religion Data Archives".thearda.Archived fromthe originalon 2021-03-02.Retrieved2020-11-15.
  9. ^Walbridge, John (March 2002)."Chapter Four - The Bahaʼi Faith in Turkey".Occasional Papers in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Studies.06(1).
  10. ^abBalci, Bayram; Jafarov, Azer (2007-02-20),"Who are the Baha'is of the Caucasus? {Part 1 of 3}",Caucaz,archived fromthe originalon 14 March 2007
  11. ^abJafarov, Azer; Balci, Bayram (2007). "Les Bahaïs du Caucase: b.a.-ba d'une communauté méconnue". In Bayram, Balci; Motika, Raoul (eds.).Religion et politique dans le Caucase post-soviétique(in French). Istanbul: Institut français d’études anatoliennes. pp. 357–366.ISBN9782362450501.Retrieved7 February2021.
  12. ^ab"MIRAS Arranges Cultural Heritage Excursions for Members".MIRAS: Social Organization in Support of Studying of Cultural Heritage.22 February 2016.Retrieved7 February2021.
  13. ^Denis, Robert (21 March 2020)."The Taghiyev-Behbudov Affair: Conflict Among Caucasian Muslim Elites in the Early XX Century".Baku Research Institute.Retrieved7 February2021.
  14. ^Mostashari, Firouzeh (2017).On the Religious Frontier: Tsarist Russia and Islam in the Caucasus.Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 121, 127.ISBN9781786732583.
  15. ^Nuri, Elmin."Dilara Nagieva:" Musa Nagiyev longed to see that his people should be educated "".Azerbaijan State Translation Centre.Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 2017.Retrieved10 February2021.
  16. ^abc"Towards the Peak"(PDF).finansist.az.2014.Retrieved10 February2021.
  17. ^Melikova, Leyla (2007)."Bahaism in Azerbaijan".The Caucasus & Globalization.1(5). Archived fromthe originalon 16 November 2020.Retrieved10 February2021.
  18. ^Robert Stockman."Chicago House of Spirituality to Baku".American Baha'i History, 1892-1912, Robert Stockman's Notes in the National Baháʼí Archives.Baháʼí Library Online.Retrieved2008-12-23.
  19. ^Charles Mason Remey(1915).Observations of a Bahai Traveller: 1908.Press of J.D. Milans & Sons. pp.39–48, 63–65, 119–123.
  20. ^abBaháʼí International Community(2003-04-29)."Two members of Universal House of Justice leave after 40 years service".Baháʼí World News Service.
  21. ^"Survey of Current Baha'i Activities in the East and West: Persecution and Deportation of the Baha'is of Caucasus and Turkistan".The Baháʼí World.VIII(1938–40). Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Committee: 87–90. 1942.
  22. ^Compiled byHands of the CauseResiding in the Holy Land."The Baháʼí Faith: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Baháʼí Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963".p. 55.
  23. ^Corley, Felix (2005-11-23)."AZERBAIJAN: Baha'is and Baptists want confiscated property back".F18News.
  24. ^"Most Baha'i Nations (2005)".QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions >.The Association of Religion Data Archives. 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-04-14.Retrieved2012-09-11.
  25. ^Corley, Felix (2004-12-13)."AZERBAIJAN: Jailed for sharing faith," non-constructive teaching "and" creating tensions between family members "".F18News.
[edit]

Media related toBaháʼí Faith in Azerbaijanat Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baháʼí_Faith_in_Azerbaijan&oldid=1238720226"