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Baháʼí Faith in Asia

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TheBaháʼí Faithwas founded byBaháʼu'lláh,inIranwho faced a series of exiles and imprisonment that moved him toBaghdad,Istanbul,andPalestine.By the 1950s, about a century after its forming, Iran remained home to the vast majority of adherents to the Baháʼí Faith.[1]Expansive teaching efforts began in the late 19th century and gained converts in other parts of Asia. By 1968, according to official Baháʼí statistics, the majority of Baháʼís (~75%) lived outside of Iran and North America, the two most prominent centers of the religion previously.[1]

In 1956 there were only three BaháʼíNational Spiritual Assembliesin Asia: Iran, Iraq, and India.[2]By 1967 the total was 15, and by 2001 there were 39 National Spiritual Assemblies in Asia.[3]

ABaháʼí House of Worshipknown as theLotus Templewas completed inDelhi,Indiain 1986, and another was completed in 2017 inBattambang,Cambodia.The design for a House of Worship inBihar Sharif,Bihar,India was unveiled in 2020. TheBaháʼí World Centre,site of theUniversal House of Justice(the governing body of the Baháʼí Faith) and other Baháʼí administrative buildings and holy places, is located inIsrael.[4]

Baháʼís havefaced severe persecutionin Iran,[5]as well as varying degrees of persecution inTurkmenistan,Uzbekistan,Iraq,Yemen,Qatar,Vietnam,Indonesia,andAfghanistan.

Central Asia

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Kazakhstan

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Kazakhstan

The Baháʼí Faith inKazakhstanbegan during thepolicy of oppressionof religion in the former Soviet Union. Before that time, Kazakhstan, as part of theRussian Empire,would have had indirect contact with theBaháʼí Faithas far back as 1847.[6]By 1994 the National Spiritual Assembly of Kazakhstan was elected[7]Following the entrance ofpioneersthe community grew by 2001 to be the religion with the third-most registered religious organizations in the country, after Islam and Christianity.[8]

Turkmenistan

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The firstBaháʼí House of Worshipwas built inAshgabat,Turkmenistan.
Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Turkmenistan

The Baháʼí Faith inTurkmenistanbegins before Russian advances into the region when the area was under the influence ofPersia.[9]By 1887 a community of Baháʼí refugees from religious violence in Persia had made a religious center inAshgabat.[9]Shortly afterwards – by 1894 – Russia made Turkmenistan part of theRussian Empire.[6]While the Baháʼí Faith spread across theRussian Empire[6][10]and attracted the attention of scholars and artists,[11]the Baháʼí community in Ashgabat built the firstBaháʼí House of Worship,elected one of the first Baháʼílocal administrative institutionsand was a center of scholarship. However, during the Soviet period religious persecution made the Baháʼí community almost disappear – however Baháʼís who moved into the regions in the 1950s did identify individuals still adhering to the religion. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in late 1991, Baháʼí communities and their administrative bodies started to develop across the nations of the former Soviet Union;[12]In 1994 Turkmenistan elected its own National Spiritual Assembly[13]however laws passed in 1995 in Turkmenistan required 500 adult religious adherents in each locality for registration and no Baháʼí community in Turkmenistan could meet this requirement.[14]As of 2007 the religion had still failed to reach the minimum number of adherents to register[15]and individuals have had their homes raided forBaháʼí literature.[16]

Uzbekistan

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Uzbekistan

The Baháʼí Faith inUzbekistanbegan in the lifetime ofBaháʼu'lláh,the founder of the religion.[17]Circa 1918 there was an estimated 1900 Baháʼís inTashkent.By the period of thepolicy of oppressionof religion in the formerSoviet Unionthe communities shrank away – by 1963 in the entire USSR there were about 200 Baháʼís.[10]Little is known until the 1980s when theBaháʼí Faithstarted to grow across the Soviet Union again.[6]In 1991 a BaháʼíNational Spiritual Assemblyof the Soviet Union was elected but was quickly split among its former members.[6]In 1992, a regional National Spiritual Assembly for the whole of Central Asia was formed with its seat in Ashgabat.[18]In 1994 the National Spiritual Assembly of Uzbekistan was elected.[13][10]In 2008 eight BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assembliesor smaller groups had registered with the government[19]though more recently there were also raids[20]and expulsions.[21]

East Asia

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China

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in China

The Baháʼí Faith was first introduced inChinaduring the lifetime of its founder, Baháʼu'lláh. The first record of a Baháʼí living in China is of a Persian, Hájí Mírzá Muhammad-ʼAlí, who lived in Shanghai from 1862 to 1868. In 1928 the first Local Spiritual Assembly in China was formed in Shanghai.

As China expanded its reform efforts and increased its interactions with the worldwide community, more Baháʼís moved to China.

The Baháʼí Faith in China has still not matured to the same point as in many other countries of the world where there is an established structure to administer its affairs. As a result of the lack of formal registration and structure, it is difficult to ascertain with some degree of certainty, the number of Baháʼís in China. The number of active followers of Baháʼu'lláh's Teachings in China has spread beyond the scope of knowledge of the existing administrative structures. Certainly there are active followers of the teachings of Baháʼu'lláh in all of the major cities of China and in many regional centers and rural areas.

Good working relationships have been developed with China'sState Administration for Religious Affairs(SARA).

According to Albert Cheung, many aspects of Baháʼu'lláh's teachings correspond closely to traditional Chinese religious and philosophical beliefs, such as: 1) the Great Unity (world peace); 2) unity of the human family; 3) service to others; 4) moral education; 5) extended family values; 6) the investigation of truth; 7) the Highest Reality (God); 8) the common foundation of religions; 9) harmony in Nature; 10) the purpose of tests and suffering; and 11) moderation in all things.[22]

Hong Kong

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Hong Kong

Hong Konghas a long history of Baha'i activity being the second location inChinawith Baha'is. Two brothers moved there in 1870 and established a long-running export business. Hong Kong did not have its first Local Spiritual Assembly until 1956 and then formed a National Spiritual Assembly in 1974. This was allowed because of Hong Kong's status at that time as similar to a sovereign nation and also due to the growth of the religion there. In 1997 sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to the People's Republic of China and it operates as aSpecial Administrative Area of China.The coordinating Spiritual Assembly there is no longer considered a "National" Spiritual Assembly but it still operates in a similar manner coordinating the activities of a very vibrant Baha'i community. In 2005 theAssociation of Religion Data Archives(relying mostly onWorld Christian Encyclopedia) estimated the Baháʼí population of Hong Kong at about 1,100.[23]

Macau

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Macao

The Baháʼí Faith was established inMacao(also spelled Macau) much later (in 1953) than in other parts of China, most likely due to the unique conditions of Macao being a Portuguese colony until 1999 and it being somewhat in the shadow of Hong Kong and larger centers in mainland China likeShanghai.Macao formed its first Local Spiritual Assembly in 1958 and then formed a National Spiritual Assembly in 1989. In 1999 sovereignty of Macao was transferred to the People's Republic of China and it operates as aSpecial Administrative Area of China.The coordinating Spiritual Assembly there is no longer considered a "National" Spiritual Assembly but it still operates in a similar manner coordinating the activities of a Baháʼí community which is estimated at 2,500 and which is considered one of the five major religions of Macao.

Japan

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Sign outside the Tokyo Baha'i Center,Shinjuku Ward.
Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Japan

The Baháʼí Faith was first introduced toJapanafter mentions of the country byʻAbdu'l-Baháfirst in 1875.[24]Japanese contact with the religion came from the West whenKanichi Yamamoto(Sơn bổn khoan một)was living inHonolulu,Hawaii in 1902 converted; the second beingSaichiro Fujita(Đằng điền tả nhất lang).

In 1914 two Baháʼís, George Jacob Augur andAgnes Alexander,and their families,pioneeredto Japan.[25]Alexander would live some 31 years off and on in Japan until 1967 when she left for the last time[26]The first Baháʼí convert on Japanese soil wasKikutaro Fukuta(Phúc điền cúc quá lang)in 1915.[27]ʻAbdu'l-Bahá undertook several trips in 1911-1912 and met Japanese travelers in Western cities, in Paris,[28]London,[29]and New York.[25]ʻAbdu'l-Bahá met Fujita in Chicago and Yamamoto in San Francisco.[30]

ʻAbdu'l-Bahá wrote a series of letters, ortablets,in 1916-1917 compiled together in the book titledTablets of the Divine Planbut which was not presented in the United States until 1919.[31]Fujita would serve between the World Wars first in the household of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and then of Shoghi Effendi.[32]In 1932 the first BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assemblywas elected in Tokyo and reelected in 1933.[33]In all of Japan there were 19 Baháʼís.[34]

In 1937 Alexander went onBaháʼí pilgrimageto return years later.[35]In 1938 Fujita was excused from his services in Haifa out of fears for his safety duringWorld War IIand returned to Japan until 1956.[36]In 1942, back in the United States, the Yamamoto family lived at arelocation campduring the war.[37]Baháʼí Americans associated with theAmerican Occupation Forcesreconnected the Japanese Baháʼí community – Michael Jamir found Fujita by 1946[37]and Robert Imagire helped re-elect the assembly in Tokyo in 1948.[37]In 1963 the statistics of Baháʼí communities showed 13 assemblies and other smaller groups.[38]

In 1968 Japanese Baháʼís began to travel outside Japan.[39]In 1971 the first residents of Okinawa converted to the religion.[40]In 1991 the community organized an affiliate of theAssociation for Baháʼí Studiesin Japan which has since held annual conferences,[41]published newsletters, and published and coordinated academic work across affiliates.[42]TheAssociation of Religion Data Archives(relying onWorld Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 15,650 Baháʼís in 2005[23]while theCIA World Factbookestimated about 12,000 Japanese Baháʼís in 2006.[43]

Mongolia

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Mongolia

The Baháʼí Faith inMongoliadates back only to the 1980s and 1990s, as prior to that point Mongolia's Communist anti-religious stance impeded the spread of the religion to that country. The first Baháʼí arrived in Mongolia in 1988, and the religion established a foothold there, later establish aLocal Spiritual Assemblyin that nation.[44]In 1994, the Baháʼís elected their firstNational Spiritual Assembly.[45]Though theAssociation of Religion Data Archivesestimated only some 50 Baháʼís in 2005[23]more than 1700 Mongolian Baháʼís turned out for a regional conference in 2009.[46]In July 1989 Sean Hinton became the first Baháʼí to reside in Mongolia, was named aKnight of Baháʼu'lláh,and the last name to be entered on the Roll of Honor at theShrine of Baháʼu'lláh.[47]

North Korea

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Baháʼís originally entered theKorean Peninsulain 1921 before theDivision of Korea.[48]Both 2005 data from theAssociation of Religion Data Archives[23](relying on theWorld Christian Encyclopediafor adherents estimates[49]) and independent research[50]agree there are no Baháʼís inNorth Korea.

South Korea

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According to a member of the South Korean Baháʼí community, there are approximately 200 active Baháʼís inSouth Korea.[51]

Taiwan

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Taiwan

The Baháʼí Faith inTaiwanbegan after the religion entered areas of China[52]and nearby Japan.[53]The first Baháʼís arrived in Taiwan in 1949[54]and the first of these to have become a Baháʼí was Mr. Jerome Chu (Chu Yao-lung) in 1945 while visiting the United States. By May 1955 there were eighteen Baháʼís in six localities across Taiwan. The firstLocal Spiritual Assemblyin Taiwan was elected inTainanin 1956. TheNational Spiritual Assemblywas first elected in 1967 when there were local assemblies inTaipei,Tainan,Hualien,andPingtung.Circa 2006 the Baháʼís showed up in the national census with 16,000 members and 13 assemblies.[55]

Middle East

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Bahrain

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Bahrain

The Baháʼí Faith inBahrainbegins with a precursor movement, theShaykhíscoming out of Bahrain intoIran.[56]Abu'l-Qásim Faiziand wife lived in Bahrain in the 1940s.[57]Around 1963 the firstLocal Spiritual Assemblyof Bahrain was elected in the capital ofManama.[58]In the 1980s, many anti-Baháʼípolemicswere published in local newspapers of the Bahrain.[59]Recent estimates count some 1,000 Baháʼís or 0.2% of the national population[60]or a little more byAssociation of Religion Data Archivesestimated there were some 2,832 Baháʼís in 2010.[61]According to the Bahraini government the combined percentage of Christians, Jews, Hindus and Baháʼís is 0.2%.[62]

Iran

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Iran
See also:Baháʼí Institute for Higher Education

Estimates for number of Baháʼís inIranin the early 21st century vary between 150,000 and 500,000. During theIranian Revolutionof 1979 and the subsequent few years, a significant number of Baháʼís left the country during intensepersecution of Baháʼís.Estimates before and after the revolution vary greatly.

  • Eliz Sanasarianwrites inReligious Minorities in Iran[63]that "Estimating the number of Baháʼís in Iran has always been difficult due to their persecution and strict adherence to secrecy. The reported number of Baháʼís in Iran has ranged anywhere from the outrageously high figure of 500,000 to the low number of 150,000. The number 300,000 has been mentioned most frequently, especially for the mid- to late- 1970s, but it is not reliable. Roger Cooper gives an estimate of between 150,000 and 300,000."
  • The Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa(2004) states that "In Iran, by 1978, the Baháʼí community numbered around 300,000."[64]
  • The Columbia Encyclopedia(5th edition, 1993) reports that "Prior to theIranian Revolutionthere were about 1 million Iranian Baháʼís. "[citation needed]
  • The Encyclopedia of Islam(new edition, 1960) reports that "In Persia, where different estimates of their number vary from more than a million down to about 500,000. [in 1958]"[citation needed]

Iraq

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A 1970 law prohibits the Baháʼí Faith inIraq.[65]A 1975 regulation forbade the issuance of national identity cards to Baháʼís until it was rescinded in 2007, but after only a few identity cards were issued to Baháʼís, their issuance was again halted.[65]According to Bahá’í leaders in Iraq, their community numbers less than 2,000 in that country.[65]The Bahá’í World News Service reported in May 2020 that Bahá’ís inIraqi Kurdistanwere hosting weekly online meetings on how spiritual teachings could shape public life.[66]

Israel

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Further information:Religion in Israel § Baháʼí Faith
View towards theShrine of the Bábfrom the upperTerracesonMount Carmel,Haifa

The administrative centre of the Baháʼí Faith and theShrine of the Bábare located at theBaháʼí World CentreinHaifa,and the leader of the religion is buried inAcre.Apart from maintenance staff, there is no Baháʼí community inIsrael,although it is a destination forpilgrimages.Baháʼí staff in Israel do not teach their faith to Israelis following strict Baháʼí policy.[67][68]

Lebanon

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Lebanon

The Baháʼí Faith has a following of at least several hundred people inLebanondating back to 1870.[69]The community includes around 400 people,[70]with a centre inBeit Mery,just outside the capital Beirut, and cemeteries inMachgaraandKhaldeh.On the other hand, theAssociation of Religion Data Archives(relying onWorld Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 3,900 Baháʼís in 2005.[23]

Qatar

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On 31 March 2021, Qatari authorities blacklisted and deported a prominent Qatar-born Baháʼí, Omid Seioshansian, on "unspecified criminal and national security charges." Over the years many Baháʼís have been blacklisted and deported from Qatar. Once blacklisted, Baháʼís are expelled from the country and are permanently refused reentry. Residency permits of non-Qatari Baháʼís have also been denied, or not renewed.[71][72]

United Arab Emirates

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in the United Arab Emirates

The Baháʼí Faith in theUnited Arab Emiratesbegins before the specific country gained independence in 1971. The first Baháʼís arrived inDubaiby 1950,[73]and by 1957, there were four BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assembliesin the region of the UAE and a regional National Spiritual Assembly of the Arabian Peninsula.[7]Recent estimates count some 38,364 Baháʼís or 0.5% of the national population.[61]

Yemen

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In 2018, theHouthi movementinYemenfiled charges against 20 Baháʼís in the country. Six who were held in detention were released in 2020.[74]

South Asia

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Afghanistan

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Afghanistan

The history of the Baháʼí Faith inAfghanistanbegan in the 1880s with visits by Baháʼís. However, it was not until the 1930s that any Baháʼí settled there.[75]A BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assemblywas elected in 1948 inKabul[76]and after some years was re-elected in 1969.[77]Though the population had perhaps reached thousands, under theSoviet invasion of Afghanistanand the harsh rule of theTalibanthe Baháʼís lost the right to have any institutions and many fled. According to a 2007 estimate, the Baháʼís in Afghanistan number approximately 400,[78]whereas theAssociation of Religion Data Archivesgave a higher estimate of 15,000 Baháʼís in 2005.[23]

Bangladesh

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Bangladesh

The history of the Baháʼí Faith inBangladeshbegan previous to its independence when it was part of India. The roots of the Baháʼí Faith in the region go back to the first days of theBábíreligion in 1844.[79]DuringBaháʼu'lláh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged some of his followers to move to India.[18]And it may have been Jamál Effendi who was first sent and stopped inDhakamore than once.[80]The first Baháʼís in the area that would later become Bangladesh was when a Bengali group from Chittagong accepted the religion while in Burma.[81]By 1950 there were enough members of the religion to elect BaháʼíLocal Spiritual AssembliesinChittagongandDhaka.[38]The community has contributed to the progress of the nation[clarification needed]of Bangladesh individually and collectively[citation needed]and in 2005 theWorld Christian Encyclopediaestimated the Baháʼí population of Bangladesh about 10,600.[23]

India

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The Baháʼí House of Worship in New Delhi.
Main article:Baháʼí Faith in India

The roots of the Baháʼí Faith in India go back to the first days of the religion in 1844. A researcher, William Garlington, characterized the 1960s until present as a time of "Mass Teaching".[82]He suggests that the mentality of the believers in India changed during the later years ofShoghi Effendi's ministry, when they were instructed to accept converts who were illiterate and uneducated. The change brought teaching efforts into the rural areas of India, where the teachings of theunity of humanityattracted many people from lowercastes.[citation needed]According to the 2005Association of Religion Data Archivesdata there are close to some 1,880,000 Baháʼís;[23]however, the2011 Census of Indiarecorded only 4,572.[83][84]The Baháʼí community of India claims a Baháʼí population of over 2 million, the highest official Baháʼí population of any country.[85]

The Bahá'í House of Worship in Bahapur,New Delhi,India[86]was designed by Iranian-American architectFariborz Sahbaand is commonly known as theLotus Temple.[87]Rúhíyyih Khánumlaid the foundation stone on 17 October 1977 and dedicated the temple on 24 December 1986.[88]The total cost was $10 million.[89][90]The temple has won numerous architectural awards[91][92]and has been featured in magazines and newspapers.[93]It has also become a major attraction for people of various religions, with up to 100,000 visitors on someHinduholy days;[92]estimates for the number of visitors annually range from 2.5 million to 5 million.[92][86][94]A 2001 aCNNreporter referred to it as the most visited building in the world.[95]

Inspired by thesacred lotusflower, the temple's design is composed of 27 free-standing, marble-clad "petals" grouped into clusters of three and thus forming nine sides.[86]The temple's shape has symbolic and inter-religious significance because the lotus is often associated with the Hindu goddessLakshmi.[92]Nine doors open on to a central hall[91]with permanent seating for 1,200 people, which can be expanded for a total seating capacity of 2,500 people.[96]The temple rises to a height of 40.8 m[96]and is situated on a 26-acre (105,000 m2;10.5 ha) property featuring nine surrounding ponds.[91]An educational centre beside the temple was established in 2017.[94]

A design for another House of Worship, inBihar Sharif,Bihar,India, was unveiled in 2020.[97]

Nepal

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Nepal

The Baháʼí Faith inNepalbegins after a Nepalese leader encountered the religion in his travels before World War II.[98]Following World War II, the first known Baháʼí to enter Nepal was about 1952[38][99]and the first NepaleseBaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assemblyelected in 1961, and itsNational Spiritual Assemblyin 1972.[100]For a period of time, between 1976 and 1981, all assemblies were dissolved due to legal restrictions.[101]The 2001 census reported 1,211 Baháʼís,[102]and since the 1990s the Baháʼí community of Nepal has been involved in a number of interfaith organizations including the Inter-religious Council of Nepal promoting peace in the country.[103]

Pakistan

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan

The Baháʼí Faith inPakistanbegins previous to its independence when it was part of India. The roots of the Baháʼí Faith in the region go back to the first days of theBábíreligion in 1844[79]especially withShaykhSa'id Hindi – one of theLetters of the Livingwho was fromMultan.[104]DuringBaháʼu'lláh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged some of his followers to move to the area.[18]Jamal Effendi visitedKarachiin 1875 on one of his trips to parts of Southern Asia.[104]Muhammad Raza Shirazi became a Baháʼí in Mumbai in 1908 and may have been the first Baháʼí to settle,pioneer,in Karachi.[104]National coordinated activities across India began and reached a peak by the December 1920, first All-India Baháʼí Convention, held in Mumbai for three days.[105]Representatives from India's major religious communities were present as well as Baháʼí delegates from throughout the country. In 1921, the Baháʼís of Karachi elected their first BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assembly.[104]In 1923, still as part of India, a regionalNational Spiritual Assemblywas formed for all India and Burma which then included the area now part of Pakistan.[75]From 1931 to 1933, Professor Pritam Singh, the first Baháʼí from aSikhbackground, settled inLahoreand published an English-language weekly calledThe Bahaʼi Weeklyand other initiatives. ABaháʼí publishing committeewas established in Karachi in 1935. This body evolved and is registered as theBahaʼi Publishing Trustof Pakistan. In 1937,John Esslemont'sBaháʼu'lláh and the New Erawas translated into Urdu and Gujrati in Karachi.[104][106]The committee also published scores of Baháʼí books and leaflets in many languages.[107]The local assemblies spread across many cities[38]and in 1957, East and West Pakistan elected a separate national assembly from India and in 1971, East Pakistan became Bangladesh with its own national assembly.[13]Waves of refugees came from theSoviet Union invasion of Afghanistan[77]and theIslamic RevolutioninIran[108]and later from theTaliban.[104]Some of these people were able to return home, some stayed, and others moved on. In Pakistan the Baháʼís have had the right to hold public meetings, establish academic centers, teach their faith, and elect their administrative councils.[109]However, the government prohibits Baháʼís from traveling to Israel to haveBaháʼí pilgrimage.[110]Nevertheless, Baháʼís in Pakistan set up a school[104]and most of the students were not Baháʼís.[111]as well as other projects addressing the needs of Pakistan. And the religion continues to grow and in 2004 the Baháʼís of Lahore began seeking for a new Baháʼí cemetery.[112]TheWorld Christian Encyclopediaestimated over 78,000 Baháʼís lived in Pakistan in 2000[113]though Baháʼís claimed less than half that number.[110]

Sri Lanka

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A Baháʼí doctor known as Dr. Luqmani established a medical practice inSri Lankain 1949. In 2017, it was reported that there were about 5,000 Baháʼís in Sri Lanka.[114]

Southeast Asia

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Cambodia

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A sign inBattambang,in an area with a high concentration of Baháʼí followers.

The introduction of theBaháʼí Faith in Cambodiafirst occurred in the 1920s, not long afterFrench Indochinawas mentioned byʻAbdu'l-Baháas a potential destination for Baháʼí teachers.[115]After a sporadic visits from travelling teachers throughout the first half of the 20th century, the first Baháʼí group in Cambodia was established inPhnom Penhin 1956, with the arrival of Baháʼí teachers from India.[116][117]During the rule of theKhmer Rougein the late 1970s, all effective contact with the Cambodian Baháʼís was lost.[118]The efforts of Baháʼí teachers working in Cambodian refugee camps in Thailand led to the establishment of Local Spiritual Assemblies among the survivors of the Khmer Rouge'scampaign of genocide.[119]The Baháʼí community has recently seen a return to growth, especially in the city ofBattambang;in 2009, the city was host to one of 41 Baháʼí regional conferences, and in 2012, the Universal House of Justice announced plans to establish a localBaháʼí House of Worshipthere.[120][121]According to a 2010 estimate, Cambodia is home to approximately 10,000 Baháʼís.[122]

The Battambang temple was the world's first local Baháʼí House of Worship to be completed. The temple was designed by Cambodian architect Sochet Vitou Tang, who is a practicing Buddhist, and integrates distinctive Cambodian architectural principles.[123]A dedication ceremony and official opening conference took place on 1–2 September 2017, attended by Cambodian dignitaries, locals, and representatives of Baháʼí communities throughout southeast Asia.[124][125]

Indonesia

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Indonesia

The Baháʼí Faith's presence in Indonesia can be traced to the late 19th century, when two Baháʼís visited what is now Indonesia, as well as several otherSoutheast Asiancountries.[126]TheMentawai Islandswere one of the first areas outside theMiddle Eastand theWestern worldwhere significant numbers of conversions to the religion took place, beginning in 1957.[1]In 2014, theBaháʼí International Community(BIC) established a regional office inJakarta.[126]Baháʼís have been persecuted to a moderate extent in Indonesia.[127][128]

Laos

[edit]
A Baha'i gathering inVientianein 2009.
Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Laos

The history of the Baháʼí Faith inLaosbegan after a brief mention byʻAbdu'l-Baháin 1916[115]and the first Baháʼí entered Laos in about 1955.[129]The first BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assemblyis known to be first elected by 1958 inVientiane[38][130]and eventually Laos' own National Spiritual Assembly in 1967.[131]The current community is approximately eight thousand adherents and four centers:Vientiane,Vientiane Province,Kaysone Phomvihane,and inPakxe.[132]and smaller populations in other provinces.[133]While well established and able to function as communities in these cities Baháʼís have a harder time in other provinces and cannot print their own religious materials.[134]

Malaysia

[edit]

A large concentration of Baháʼís is also found inMalaysia,made up of Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans, Aslis and other indigenous groups. The Baháʼí community of Malaysia claims that "about 1%" of the population are Baháʼís.[135]Given the 2017 population of Malaysia, such a claim represents about 310,000 Baháʼís.

The Baháʼí Faith is one of the recognised religions inSarawak,the largest state in Malaysia. Various races embraced the religion, from Chinese to Iban and Bidayuh, Bisayahs, Penans, Indians but not the Malays or other Muslims. In towns, the majority Baháʼí community is often Chinese, but in rural communities, they are of all races, Ibans, Bidayuhs, etc. In some schools, Baháʼí associations or clubs for students exist. Baháʼí communities are now found in all the various divisions of Sarawak. However, these communities do not accept assistance from government or other organisations for activities which are strictly for Baháʼís. If, however, these services extend to include non-Baháʼís also, e.g. education for children's classes or adult literacy, then sometimes the community does accept assistance. The administration of the religion is through local spiritual assemblies. There is no priesthood among the Baháʼís. Election is held annually without nomination or electioneering. The Baháʼís should study the community and seek those members who display mature experience, loyalty, and are knowledgeable in the religion's beliefs. There are more than 50,000 Baháʼís in more than 250 localities in Sarawak.[citation needed]

Philippines

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Main article:Baháʼí Faith in the Philippines

The Baháʼí Faith in thePhilippinesstarted in 1921 with the firstBaháʼívisiting the Philippines that year,[136]and by 1944 a BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assemblywas established.[137]In the early 1960s, during a period of accelerated growth, the community grew from 200 in 1960 to 1,000 by 1962 and 2,000 by 1963. In 1964 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the Philippines was elected and by 1980 there were 64,000 Baháʼís and 45 local assemblies.[138]The Baháʼís have been active in multi/inter-faith developments. No recent numbers are available on the size of the community.

Singapore

[edit]
See also:Religion in Singapore § Bahá'í Faith

The Faith first came to Singapore in the 1880's, when Sulaymán Khan-i-Tunukabaní (popularly known as Jamál Effendí) and Siyyid Mustafá Roumie, stopped over in Singapore for a few weeks on their way to the Javanese and Celebes islands. Jamál Effendí was the first Persian Baháʼí sent to India by Baha'u'llah to teach the Faith in 1878. His travel companion, Mustafá Roumie was a Muslim of Iraqi descent, who became enamoured with the Baháʼí teachings and became a Baháʼí during Jamal Effendi’s teaching trip to India. Both of them decided to team up for the purpose of teaching the Faith to the inhabitants of the countries of Southeast Asia. In Singapore, they stayed in the Arab quarters, as guests of the Turkish Vice Consul, a well-known Arab merchant. They mixed freely with the Arab community. It is believed that they taught the Baháʼí Faith in Singapore to the Arab and Indian traders.

The teachings of the Faith did not take root in Singapore, until the arrival and residency of Dr. Khodadad Muncherji Fozdar and his wife,Mrs. Shirin Fozdar,in 1950. In a public lecture at the Singapore Rotary Club, then the most prestigious and male-dominated club in Singapore, Mrs. Shirin Fozdar mentioned Baháʼí principles such as universal brotherhood, unity of mankind, gender equality, universal language and peace, building a spiritual civilization and the establishment of world government.

Within two years of Dr. Fozdar’s arrival, a total of twelve declared believers in the Baháʼí Faith emerged. Mr. Naraindas Jethanand was the first declared believer of the Faith in Singapore. The first Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in April 1952. The history of Singapore and Malaysian Baháʼí communities are closely linked, as Mrs. Fozdar gave talks in Singapore and Malaya, and other Baháʼí teachers and believers would travel between the two countries to teach the Faith. There are currently five Local Spiritual Assemblies under the jurisdiction of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of Singapore, the national governing council, which was established in April 1972.

The mid 1990s to the early part of the 21st century saw the Bahá’í community in Singapore spearheading efforts to promote interfaith engagement in multi-religious Singapore. The World Religion Day observances, initiated and organized by the Bahá’í community in Singapore, gained nationwide prominence and support, and became the precursor for many interfaith endeavours that proliferate in Singapore now. The Bahá’í Faith became one of the constituent religions of the Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore (IRO) in 1996. The Baháʼí community continues to participate and collaborate in interfaith events, actively promoting understanding, dialogue and interaction between different religions.

To initiate a thoughtful and self-reflective exploration into the role of religion to build an ever-advancing civilisation, the Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of Singapore submitted a paper titledRethinking the Role of Religion in the midst of our changing aspirations and increasing diversity[139]in November 2012 as a contribution toOur Singapore Conversation.

Vietnam

[edit]
Vietnamese Baha'is elect their National Spiritual Assembly inDanang,in 2009.
Main article:Baháʼí Faith in Vietnam

The introduction of the Baháʼí Faith inVietnamfirst occurred in the 1920s, not long afterFrench Indochinawas mentioned byʻAbdu'l-Baháas a potential destination for Baháʼí teachers.[115]After a number of brief visits from travelling teachers throughout the first half of the 20th century, the first Baháʼí group in Vietnam was established inSaigonin 1954, with the arrival of Shirin Fozdar, a Baháʼí teacher from India. The 1950s and 1960s were marked by periods of rapid growth, mainly inSouth Vietnam;despite thewar then affecting the country,the Baháʼí population surged to around 200,000 adherents by 1975. After the end of the war, Vietnam was reunified under a communist government, who proscribed the practice of the religion from 1975 to 1992, leading to a sharp drop in community numbers. Relations with the government gradually improved, however, and in 2007 the Baháʼí Faith was officially registered, followed by its full legal recognition a year later.[140][141]As of 2011, it was reported that the Baháʼí community comprised about 8,000 followers.[142]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^abcMomen & Smith 1989.
  2. ^Hassall 2000.
  3. ^Bolhuis 2001.
  4. ^Smith 2000,pp. 71–72.
  5. ^International Federation for Human Rights (1 August 2003)."Discrimination against religious minorities in Iran"(PDF).fdih.org.Retrieved20 October2006.
  6. ^abcdeMomen, Moojan."Russia".Draft for "A Short Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith".Baháʼí Academics Resource Library.Retrieved14 April2008.
  7. ^abThe Baháʼí Faith: 1844–1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Baháʼí Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953–1963,Compiled byHands of the CauseResiding in the Holy Land, pages 22 and 46.
  8. ^Government of Kazakhstan (2001)."Religious Groups in Kazakhstan".2001 Census.Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA & Canada. Archived fromthe originalon 31 October 2006.Retrieved21 May2008.
  9. ^abMomen, Moojan."Turkmenistan".Draft for "A Short Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith".Baháʼí Academics Resource Library.Retrieved23 May2008.
  10. ^abcLocal Spiritual Assembly of Kyiv (2007)."Statement on the history of the Baháʼí Faith in Soviet Union".Official Website of the Baháʼís of Kyiv.Local Spiritual Assembly of Kyiv. Archived fromthe originalon 15 July 2010.Retrieved19 April2008.
  11. ^Smith 2000,p. 340.
  12. ^Hassall, Graham; Fazel, Seena."100 Years of the Baháʼí Faith in Europe".Baháʼí Studies Review.Vol. 1998, no. 8. pp. 35–44.
  13. ^abcNotes on Research on National Spiritual AssembliesAsia Pacific Baháʼí Studies.
  14. ^compiled by Wagner, Ralph D."Turkmenistan".Synopsis of References to the Baháʼí Faith, in the US State Department's Reports on Human Rights 1991–2000.Baháʼí Academics Resource Library.Retrieved25 May2008.
  15. ^U.S. State Department (14 September 2007)."Turkmenistan – International Religious Freedom Report 2007".The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.Retrieved21 May2008.
  16. ^Corley, Felix(1 April 2004)."TURKMENISTAN: Religious communities theoretically permitted, but attacked in practice?".F18News.
  17. ^Hassall, Graham (1993)."Notes on the Babi and Baha'i Religions in Russia and its territories".Journal of Baháʼí Studies.05(3): 41–80, 86.doi:10.31581/JBS-5.3.3(1993).Retrieved18 February2010.
  18. ^abcMomen, Moojan; Smith, Peter."Baháʼí History".Draft A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith.Baháʼí Library Online.Retrieved4 April2009.
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  21. ^Corley, Felix (16 February 2010)."UZBEKISTAN: Two more foreigners deported for religious activity".Forum 18.Retrieved18 February2010.
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References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Brookshaw, Dominic P.; Fazel, Seena B., eds. (2008).The Baha'is of Iran: Socio-historical studies.New York: Routledge.ISBN978-0-203-00280-3.
  • Garlington, William (2006). "Indian Baha'i tradition". In Mittal, Sushil; Thursby, Gene R. (eds.).Religions of South Asia.London: Routledge. pp. 247–260.ISBN0415223903.
  • Geller, Randall S. (2019). "The Baha'i minority in the State of Israel, 1948–1957".Middle Eastern Studies.55(3): 403–418.doi:10.1080/00263206.2018.1520100.S2CID149907274.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baháʼí_Faith_in_Asia&oldid=1233054553#Yemen"