24 January 1982: To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Baha'i friends,

The fiftieth anniversary of the ascension of Bahiyyih Khanum, eldest daughter of Baha'u'llah and designated by Him the Greatest Holy Leaf, will occur on 15 July of this year. We summon the entire Baha'i world to a befitting commemoration of the life of the greatest woman in the Baha'i Dispensation.

National Spiritual Assemblies are requested to arrange national commemorative services, and to ensure that all local communities hold befitting meetings. These services should be held on the date of the anniversary or on the weekend immediately following it, and in those countries where Mashriqu'l-Adhkars are in existence, they should be held in the Temple.

In order to provide for your arrangement of the services, we have requested our Research Department to compile a bibliography of references to the Greatest Holy Leaf in Baha'i literature in English, and this is enclosed for your use. In addition the book announced in our message of March 1981 is now at press, and will be available by the time of the commemoration.

With loving Baha'i greetings,

The Universal House of Justice

(‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986’)

Some References to the Greatest Holy Leaf Found in Published Works

Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets revealed in honour of the Greatest Holy Leaf (New York:  National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada, 1933).

21 January 1982: To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Baha'i friends,

The Hand of the Cause William Sears, deeply moved by the savage onslaught on the dearly loved and heroic Baha'i community in Iran, has written a dramatic account of the current persecution.

Mr Sears's story acquires deep poignancy from the account of his travels in Iran when he came to know and love the Persian Baha'is, both individually and collectively, among whom are a number of the martyrs. In a white heat of indignation, he came to the World Centre to write the first draft of his book, using the detailed information available here to present -- as he is so well able -- the successive tragedies which, even in these days of universal terrorism, are beginning to shock the world.

The House of Justice believes that Mr Sears's book will not only be warmly welcomed by the friends, but can also be a potent instrument for interesting large numbers of people in the tragic events now taking place in Persia, winning their sympathy for the harassed Baha'is and leading them to inquire further about a Faith which can inspire such fortitude in ordinary people. He does not miss the opportunities offered, in refuting the trumped-up charges made against the Baha'is, for presenting basic Baha'i teachings and conveying a persuasive sense of why Baha'u'llah is worth dying for. Furthermore, widespread knowledge among the public of the persecutions in Iran can be an added deterrent to their continuation, reinforcing the many efforts being made by governments and other agencies as a result of the constant appeals of the Baha'i International Community and National Spiritual Assemblies.

7 January 1982: To all National Spiritual Assemblies

INFORMATION JUST RECEIVED SIX MEMBERS LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY TIHRAN TOGETHER WITH WOMAN BELIEVER IN WHOSE HOME ARRESTS WERE MADE ON SECOND NOVEMBER WERE SECRETLY EXECUTED ON FOURTH JANUARY. INFORMATION OBTAINED FORTUITOUSLY BY RELATIVES FRIENDS MARTYRS.  

NAMES THESE VALIANT SOULS ARE:

MR KURUSH TALA'I

MR KHUSRAW MUHANDISI

MR ISKANDAR 'AZIZI

MR FATHU'LLAH FIRDAWSI

MR 'ATA'U'LLAH YAVARI

MRS SHIVA MAHMUDI ASADU'LLAHZADIH

HOSTESS:  MRS SHIDRUKH AMIR-KIYA BAQA ...

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

(‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986’)