Bahai in Switzerland

28/04/2026

**Summary of the Riḍván 2026 Message from the Universal House of Justice**

The Universal House of Justice announces the beginning of the **second, greater phase of the Nine Year Plan**. The global Bahá’í community is advancing with unity and confidence, undeterred by the world’s turmoil, and remains focused on its sacred mission.

**Key positive developments:**

- Newly enrolled believers are eagerly taking part in service alongside long-standing members of the Faith.
- Third milestone clusters are proving to be highly fruitful grounds for learning and sharing experiences.
- Profound, experience-based conversations are taking place worldwide — rooted in practical community-building rather than theory.
- There is a growing sense of responsibility, clarity about the significance of the Bahá’í community’s work for a troubled world, and a deepening commitment to cultivate a way of life based on Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings.

The Bahá’í community is becoming a more visible and organized protagonist of the Plan: it is forming collaborative structures, providing mutual support, and learning to act more effectively. Youth, in particular, are taking notable initiative, working together and encouraging their peers, often in difficult social conditions.

**Call to hope and steadfastness:**
Despite global turbulence, Bahá’ís are urged not to lose heart but to remain hopeful and become sources of hope for others. The Iranian Bahá’í community is highlighted as a shining example — patient, steadfast, and resilient under decades of oppression, while continuing to serve their fellow citizens.

The Universal House of Justice offers prayers for divine assistance, strength, and success for all believers as they enter this new phase of the Nine Year Plan. It encourages extending conversations about the Faith and its relevance to society to ever-wider circles of people.

**Core message:** Move forward with confidence, eagerness to learn, and unity in the next phase of the Nine Year Plan — serving as beacons of hope for the spiritual and material progress of humanity.

01/04/2026

The old world order is being wound up - just as Bahaullah prophesied:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Aobr7QeCM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

30/03/2026

08/03/2026

Why are the religious authorities persecuting Iranian Bahais?

The persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran, including under the rule of the Ayatollahs (starting with Ayatollah Khomeini after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and continuing under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei), stems from a combination of theological, ideological and political factors deeply embedded in the Islamic Republic's system.

Core Theological Reason
The Bahá'í Faith emerged in 19th-century Persia (modern Iran) and teaches that religious revelation is progressive: God sends messengers periodically to guide humanity (including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá'u'lláh). Bahá'ís accept Muhammad as a prophet but view Bahá'u'lláh (the faith's founder) as a subsequent divine messenger.

This directly contradicts a core doctrine in mainstream Islam (especially Twelver Shia Islam, Iran's state religion): the belief in the finality of prophethood — that Muhammad is the "Seal of the Prophets," ( but not the finality of divine messengers). After Mohammed came the Imams. Conservative Shia clerics therefore regard the Bahá'í Faith as heresy and its followers as apostates from Islam. In Islamic jurisprudence (particularly as interpreted by hardline clerics), apostasy can carry severe penalties, including death, and apostates lose legal protections afforded to recognized religious minorities (like Christians, Jews, or Zoroastrians under Iran's constitution).

Ayatollah Khomeini explicitly labeled Bahá'ís as "apostates" and "unclean" (najis), issuing fatwas that excluded them from protections granted to other non-Muslims and effectively permitting their oppression with impunity.

Post-1979 Institutionalization Under the Islamic Republic:
After the 1979 Revolution, the clerical establishment gained full state power and turned longstanding clerical hostility into official policy. Bahá'ís — Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority (estimated at several hundred thousand) — were denied recognition in the constitution and became the most systematically targeted group.

A key document is the secret 1991 memorandum titled "The Final Solution to Bahá'í Question," signed by Ayatollah Khamenei, which explicitly directs authorities to:
- Block the progress and development of Bahá'ís.
- Prevent their economic and social advancement.
- Aim to destroy the community as a viable entity in Iran (and even export the policy abroad).

This has translated into decades of state-sponsored actions classified by organizations like Human Rights Watch as the crime against humanity of persecution.

Additional Accusations Used to attempt to Justify Persecution:
Iranian authorities frequently try to portray Bahá'ís not just as religious heretics but as a political/security threat:
- Groundless accusations of espionage for Israel (due to the Bahá'í World Centre being in Haifa, Israel — a historical connection predating Israel's founding).
- Claims of ties to Western/Zionist plots to undermine Islam or the regime.
- Labeling Bahá'í activities (study groups, children's classes, community service, education initiatives) as "propaganda against the state" or "acting against national security."

These charges enable arrests, trials in revolutionary courts, and harsh sentences, even though Bahá'í teachings explicitly forbid partisan political involvement.

Forms of Persecution (Ongoing as of 2025–2026):

- Arbitrary arrests, imprisonment, and torture (often on fabricated charges).
- Executions (hundreds in the early post-revolution years; fewer direct executions recently, but severe repression continues).
- Denial of higher education, government jobs, pensions, and many private-sector opportunities.
- Confiscation/destruction of property, businesses, farms, and bulldozing of Bahai cemeteries.
- Home raids, business closures, and denial of dignified burial.
- Intensified targeting and r**e of Bahá'í women and youth in recent years.

Reports from 2025 show escalation after regional tensions (e.g., Israel-Iran hostilities), with hundreds of raids, arrests, arrests, executions, r**es and long prison terms. Iran carried out record executions overall in 2025 (over 2,000 across cases), though Bahá'í-specific executions are rarer now than in the 1980s.

In summary, the persecution is not random but a deliberate, ideologically driven policy rooted in the regime's view of Bahá'ís as existential threats to Shia Islamic orthodoxy and state security. International bodies (UN, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty) consistently document it as systematic religious discrimination with neither basis in the Bahá'ís' actual beliefs nor actions.

10/11/2025

15/09/2025

My take on Justice and Gaza: a Bahai perspective:

The Bahá'í Faith, founded by Bahá'u'lláh in the 19th century, places justice at its core as one of its fundamental principles, emphasizing the oneness of humanity, the elimination of all forms of prejudice, and the establishment of universal peace.

The highest governing body of the Baja global faith the universal house of justice is not you note called the universal house of peace love or unity. The Bahai faith is based on justice. Bahaullah himself was a victim of many injustice.

Bahá'u'lláh stated: "Should any one among you take up arms against another, rise ye all against him, for this is naught but manifest justice."

It is important to know that Bahais are not pacifists

This principle underscores a vision for collective security in a future world order, where nations unite under a new, global federal cantonal system, including an independent world tribunal to adjudicate disputes and an international force to enforce decisions and deter aggression.

It is not a call for individual or partisan action but a blueprint for humanity's collective maturity, where legal force serves justice rather than personal, corporate or national interests.

Bahá'u'lláh's teachings explicitly condemn war as a "satanic institution" - and promote non-aggression, while allowing for defensive measures in service to law and equity - once such a unified system exists.

Applying this to the ongoing genocide in Gaza requires careful consideration of Bahá'í principles, as the Faith maintains a strictly non-political stance. The Universal House of Justice, the Faith's governing body, has consistently advised Bahá'ís not to take sides in political disputes, including the Israeli-Palestinian occupation, to avoid entanglement in divisive issues that could hinder the Faith's universal mission.

In a 1947 letter to the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine, Shoghi Effendi (the Guardian of the Faith) stated: "The Bahá'í Faith is entirely nonpolitical and we neither take sides in the present tragic dispute going on over the future of the Holy Land and its people nor have we any statement to make or advice to give as to what the nature of the political future of this (futuristic) state should be." This guidance remains in effect today, as reflected in discussions among Bahá'ís and official compilations on war and peace.

The Faith's holy and our historical sites in Haifa and Acre (in occupied Palestine ) are recognised as the world administrative center, but this does not imply endorsement of the actions of the current Israeli regime. Instead, it underscores the need for safeguarding the respect for and independence of all religions amid geopolitical tensions.

From a Bahá'í perspective, the principle of collective, legal military action against aggression would ideally apply through international bodies like the United Nations, which Bahá'ís view as a step toward the world federation Bahá'u'lláh envisioned.

In the case of Gaza—where the Israeli military attacks since October 2023 have created global revulsion and a widespread humanitarian crisis, including genocide, war crimes against civilians, mass starvation, displacement and high child casualties among Palestinians—the teachings would frame this as a manifestation of the "tumult" accompanying humanity's transition to maturity, marked by prejudice, injustice, and failed national sovereignty.

Bahá'í writings, such as *The Promise of World Peace* (1985), describe such conflicts as symptoms of disunity, urging the world to build institutions for "general and complete disarmament" and collective security to prevent any nation or entity from invading or oppressing others. The suffering of "defenseless occupied and starving hostages" (referring to Palestinian civilians) would evoke deep compassion in Bahá'ís, aligned with the principle that "the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens," and that justice demands protection of the vulnerable.

However, Bahá'ís are instructed to respond by promoting unity, prayer for all affected parties (including both Israelis and Palestinians), and grassroots efforts to foster reconciliation, eliminate racism, prejudices, and support humanitarian aid and the supply of food without party political involvement.

In practice, this means Bahá'ís worldwide pray for peace in the region, advocate for universal human rights in global and local forums, and work toward the long-term vision of a just global order where aggression like invasions, genocide or food and water blockades is halted by unified international action.

The Faith does not support violence from the IDF state military militant or occupier-settlers and views the loss of civilian life (over 100,000 reported in Gaza as of mid-2025, per UN estimates) as a tragedy.

Individual Bahá'ís may feel profound distress over the starvation and occupation but official guidance emphasizes detachment from political labels to focus on spiritual solutions: education, racial equality (including gender and racial), and consultation for building peace from the ground up. No race is superior to any other. There is but one race - the human race - and all are created equally

If the world adopted Bahá'í principles fully, an invasion of Gaza (or any territory) would trigger collective intervention to enforce justice, ending cycles of retaliation and ensuring aid reaches the starving and displaced.

Until then, the teachings call for patience amid "tests and trials," with hope in humanity's inevitable progress toward unity. For deeper exploration, I recommend *The Promise of World Peace* or the Bahá'í Reference Library at bahai.org.

Kind refards.

The Official Website of the Worldwide Bahá’í Community

14/09/2025

Here are some scientific facts why alcohol is prohibited in the modern Bahai religion

05/09/2025

14/08/2025

3505 likes, 140 comments. “Gentleman rules”

13/08/2025

I asked the leading Chinese AI app, Kimi, a question about how the Bahá’í Administration is Organised and Functions?

The Bahá’í Administrative Order is a distinctive system that combines elected and appointed institutions to guide and serve the worldwide Bahá’í community without any clergy. It is described neither as a conventional democracy, aristocracy, nor autocracy, but as a unique structure that blends beneficial elements of various systems while avoiding their shortcomings .

# # # # 1. **Supreme Governing Body: Universal House of Justice**
- **Role**: The **Universal House of Justice** is the highest governing body, responsible for the overall direction and protection of the Bahá’í Faith globally .
- **Election**: Composed of nine members elected every five years by the members of all National Spiritual Assemblies at the International Convention .
- **Location**: Its seat is on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel .

# # # # 2. **Elected Institutions**
- **Local Spiritual Assemblies (LSAs)**:
- **Composition**: Nine members elected annually by secret ballot without nominations or campaigning .
- **Role**: Guide the local Bahá’í community, foster unity, and address individual and collective needs .
- **National Spiritual Assemblies (NSAs)**:
- **Composition**: Nine members elected annually by delegates at the National Convention .
- **Role**: Govern Bahá’í affairs within a country, coordinate regional and local activities, and serve as the electoral body for the Universal House of Justice .
- **Regional Bahá’í Councils**:
- **Role**: Assist NSAs in managing and coordinating activities across larger regions .

# # # # 3. **Appointed Institutions**
- **Counsellors**:
- **Role**: Appointed by the Universal House of Justice to provide guidance, encourage initiatives, and support learning within the community .
- **International Teaching Centre (ITC)**:
- **Composition**: Nine members appointed by the Universal House of Justice from the pool of Counsellors every five years .
- **Role**: Oversees global teaching activities and offers guidance on the implementation of the Divine Teaching Plan .
- **Continental Boards of Counsellors**:
- **Role**: Provide counsel to national, regional, and local institutions and individuals in teaching and consolidation efforts .
- **Auxiliary Board Members and Assistants**:
- **Role**: Support Counsellors in their work at grassroots levels .

# # # # 4. **Functioning Principles**
- **Consultation**: Decisions are made through frank, unfettered consultation aiming for unity rather than majority rule .
- **Non-Adversarial Elections**: Elections are held without nominations, campaigning, or partisanship to maintain unity and avoid division .
- **Decentralised Authority**: While authority is concentrated in elected bodies, power and initiative are vested in the entire body of believers acting through their representatives .
- **Spiritual Focus**: The administration is viewed as an instrument to channel the spirit of the Faith, fostering love, justice, and service to humanity .

This structure ensures a balance between guidance and flexibility, allowing the Bahá’í community to adapt to diverse cultural and social contexts while maintaining unity of purpose and action.

13/08/2025

BREAKING: A Qatari dignitary, Remy Rowhani, has been sentenced to five years in jail after an unjust conviction on baseless charges. The Baha'i International Community calls on the international community to urge the government of to uphold international law and ensure his immediate release. Details to follow.