- 1869-00-00 —
The 17-year-old Áqá Buzurg-i-Níshápúrí, Badí`, arrived in `Akká having walked from Mosul. He was able to enter the city unsuspected. [BKG297; RB3:178]
- He was still wearing the simple clothes of a water bearer. [BKG297]
- For the story of his life, see BKG294–297 and RB3:176–179.
- For his transformation see RB3:179–182.
Badí` saw `Abdu'l-Bahá in a mosque and was able to write a note to Him. The same night Badí` entered the citadel and went into the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. He met Bahá'u'lláh twice. [BKG297; RW3:179]
- Badí` asked Bahá'u'lláh for the honour of delivering the Tablet to the Sháh and Bahá'u'lláh bestowed it on him. [BKG297; RB3:182]
- The journey to Tehran took four months; he traveled alone. [BKG298]
- For the story of the journey see BKG297–300 and RB3:184.
- For the Tablet of Bahá'u'lláh to Badí` see BKG299 and RB3:175–176.
- Regarding the tablet to the Sháh
"Bahá'u'lláh's lengthiest epistle to any single sovereign" -- Lawḥ-i-Sulṭán, (the Tablet to Náṣiri'd-Dín Sháh) Of the various writings that make up the Súriy-i-Haykal, one requires particular mention. The Lawḥ-i-Sulṭán, the Tablet to Náṣiri'd-Dín Sháh, Bahá'u'lláh's lengthiest epistle to any single sovereign, was revealed in the weeks immediately preceding His final banishment to 'Akká. It was eventually delivered to the monarch by Badí', a youth of seventeen, who had entreated Bahá'u'lláh for the honour of rendering some service. His efforts won him the crown of martyrdom and immortalized his name. The Tablet contains the celebrated passage describing the circumstances in which the divine call was communicated to Bahá'u'lláh and the effect it produced. Here, too, we find His unequivocal offer to meet with the Muslim clergy, in the presence of the Sháh, and to provide whatever proofs of the new Revelation they might consider to be definitive, a test of spiritual integrity significantly failed by those who claimed to be the authoritative trustees of the message of the Qur'án. [The Universal House of Justice (Introduction to 'The Summons of the Lord of Hosts')]
- See Three Momentous Years in The Bahá'í World for the story of Badí.
- 1919-11-18 —
The periodical entitled "The Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom" was published and distributed by Miss Ella Roberts from 1919 to 1924. [Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America: Native American creation stories,
edited by Rosemary Skinner Keller, Rosemary Radford Ruether, Marie Cantlon p.782-783]
- The story of the naming of the magazine...
Margaret Randall told of the establishment of a Bahá'í Junior Magazine and asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá for a name for it. The Master was told who had charge of it, and His face lighted up with a beautiful smile as He said: "The name is The Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom. Who writes it? This (name) is suitable for it. [WHR128-129]
- See A Compilation on Bahá'í Education #96 for a tablet by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the children of the Bahá'í school, Urbana, Illinois found here.
- See A Compilation on Bahá'í Education #102 for a tribute to the magazine by Shoghi Effendi found here. He called it "first and only organ of the Bahá'í youth throughout the world".
- At the American National Convention in 1925 (July 4 - 9) it was reported that "The Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom", edited by Ella Roberts and "Bahá'í World Fellowship" edited by Mrs. Victoria Bedikian had merged. ["Bahá'í News Letter" #6 Jul-Aug 1925 p.6]
- 1968-07-27 — The first National Youth Conference of Honduras opened in Santa Rosa de Copán. [BW15:328–9]
- 1968-10-09 — The Universal House of Justice addressed its second letter to Bahá'í Youth. [BW15:324; WG152–4; 9 October 1968]
- 1969-12-29 —
The First Pacific Area Bahá'í Youth Conference took place in Apia, Western Samoa. [BW15:329–30]
- For picture see BW15:330.
- 1970-06-19 — Rúhíyyih Khánum interrupted her African teaching safari to meet with more than 2,000 youth at the National Youth Conference in the United States. [BW15:331; VV10]
- 1971-04-00 —
The International Bahá'í Youth Conference took place at Oteppe-Namur, Belgium, launching a two-year youth campaign for Europe. [BW15:333–4]
- For picture see BW15:334.
- 1971-07-31 —
The European Youth Conference took place in Fiesch, Switzerland, attended by 1,200 youth from 50 countries. [BW15:336–8]
- About 200 people enrolled in the Bahá'í Faith during the conference. [BW15:336]
- For pictures see BW15:337.
- 1971-08-27 —
The first Bahá'í Youth Conference for Western Asia took place in New Delhi. [BW15:335]
- Two thousand people enrolled during the conference and the week following. [BW15:335]
- 1971-11-01 — The first Bahá'í Youth Conference of the Antilles took place in the Dominican Republic. [BW 15:217]
- 1972-06-21 —
Over 150 American youth join European youth in Operation Hand-in-Hand, a joint teaching project. [BW15:338]
- For picture see BW15:347.
- 1972-12-01 — The first International Youth Conference of Surinam took places in Paramaribo. [BW15:341]
- 1972-12-29 — The first West African Bahá'í Youth conference was held in The Gambia.
The Continental Board of Counsellors sponsored the first West African Bahá'í Youth Conference in conjunction with the National Spiritual Assembly of Upper West Africa. The Conference was held in The Gambia on the campus of Yundum College some fifteen miles from the capital city of Bathurst. Youth representing nine countries in this zone attended: Nigeria, Upper Volta, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania, plus pioneers originating from the United States, Mauritius, Malaysia, Iran, and friiq. A young Bahá'í from Sweden was able to greet the friends during a brief stop on a boat cruise. Counsellors Mr. H. R. Ardikani and Dr. William Maxwell Jr., were present as well as six of their Auxiliary Board members, Mr. Amos Agwu, Mr. Muhammad Al-Salihi, Mrs. H. Vera Edwards, Mr. Friday Ekpe, Mr. Shidan Kouchekzadeh and Dr. B. Sadiqzadeh. A total of fifty-six persons attended. [Bahá'í News 504]
- 1973-00-00 — The first International Youth Conference of Mexico took place in Puebla City, was attended by 200 youth from five countries. [BW15:343]
- 1973-04-21 —
The Nine Year Plan was successfully completed. [BW16:131]
- For the growth of the Bahá'í Faith in this period see BW16:130.
- Also see The Nine Year Plan, 1964-1973: Statistical Report, Ridván 1973 by the Universal House of Justice.
- See as well the document entitled Analysis of the Nine Year International Teaching Plan of the Bahá'í Faith published by the Universal House of Justice in April, 1964.
- "Tribute must be paid to the host of Bahá'í
youth from many countries whose travels in
Africa hastened and ensured the success of the
Nine Year Plan in that continent, and in particular
to the international "rescue squad" of
youth from Persia, India, the Philippines,
Malaysia and other countries who in the closing
hours of the Plan sealed its triumphant conclusion
in Africa." [BW15p184]
- "The friends in several countries of Africa are
also indebted to the outstanding services of Dr.
'Aziz Navidi, an international lawyer and
Baha'i International Community Representative
for Africa, who assisted the Bahá'í communities
in these countries in obtaining official recognition and performed other valuable
services." [BW15p185-186]
- 1973-11-00 — The first youth conference of Papua New Guinea took place in Sogeri with 40 youth and visitors. [BW16:276]
- 1974-05-00 — The first National Youth Conference of Burma took place during the visit of Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum. [BW16:251]
- 1975-03-29 — The first Bahá'í Youth Conference of the Canary Islands was held in Santa Cruz. [BW16:313]
- 1975-07-09 — The first International Bahá'í Youth Conference of Iceland took place in Njardvik with youth from nine countries. [BW16:301]
- 1976-03-24 — The first Continental Youth Conference of Western Asia took place in Karachi, Pakistan. [BW16:265]
- 1976-07-09 — An International Youth Conference was held in Ivory Coast, attended by nearly 200 Bahá'ís. [BW17:150, 153]
- 1977-08-12 — An International Bahá'í Youth Conference was held in Enugu, Nigeria, attended by over 250 Bahá'ís from 19 countries. [BW17:150, 153]
- 1978-08-01 — An International Bahá'í Youth Conference was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, attended by some 380 Bahá'ís from 19 countries. [BW17:150, 153]
- 1982-06-27 — The Bahá'í Youth Academy was established in Panchgani, India. [BW18:230–2]
- 1982-10-23 —
Authorities arrested 45 Bahá'ís in Shiraz on the order of the prosecutor. On October 30th another 40 Baha'is were arrested. In all cases, they were arrested simply because of their religious beliefs. Some were later released but many of those arrested were subjected to interrogation and excruciating torture. The interrogations and torture were carried out to extract information about Bahá'í organizations and to force prisoners to renounce their faith and convert to Islam.
- The Revolutionary Court of Shiraz sent 22 of those arrested to the gallows. The executions began on January 1, 1983, with the killing of Hedayatollah Siavoshi.
- The last of the group to die was Soheil Houshmand on June 28, 1983.
- The oldest among the executed Bahá'ís was Abdolhossein Azadi, 66, and the youngest was Mona Mahmoudinejad, a high school student of 17.
- The entire Eshraghi family — father, mother and daughter — were executed. Also executed were a mother and son, Nosrat and Bahram Yaldaie, and a young couple, Jamshid and Tahereh Siavoshi. Yadollah, the father of 17-year-old Mona Mahmoudinejad, was also killed.
- Ahmad Sabet Sarvestani was the only one among them who died in prison as a result of torture before he could be hanged. [Iran Press Watch 19466]
- 1983-06-18 —
In Shiraz, ten Bahá'í women ranging in age from 17 to 57, were hanged. All of the women had been tortured and interrogated in the months prior to their execution. The youngest of these martyrs was Mona Mahmudnizhad, a 17-year-old schoolgirl who had been beaten on the soles of her feet, kissed the hands of her executioner and placed the hangman's rope around her own throat. The names of the others executed were Zarrin Muqimi-Abyanih, 28, Ruya Ishraqi, a 23-year-old veterinary student, Shahin Dalvand, 25, a sociologist; Izzat Janami Ishraqi, 57, a homemaker and mother of Roya; Mahshid Nirumand, 28, who had qualified for a degree in physics but had it denied her because she was a Bahá'í, Simin Sabiri, 25; Tahirih Arjumandi Siyavushi, 30, a nurse; Akhtar Sabet Sarvestani, 25, also a nurse; Nusrat Ghufrani Yalda'i, 47, a mother and member of the local Bahá'í Spiritual Assembly. [Hanged for teaching "Sunday school"]
- For the story of the martyrs see BW19:180–7 and VV56.
- See the story of the arrest and execution of Simin Saberi.
- For their obituaries see BW19:596–607.
- For pictures of the martyred women see BW19:240–1.
- See World Order magazine Vol 4 Issue 3, 1986 for an article on Zarrin Muqimi-Abyanih written by her sister Simin Khavari.
- See Bahá'í Teachings for the story of Nusrat Yalda'i, a mother of four children, three sons and one daughter, who was executed for her hospitality.
- See Track Persia dated 25 January 2020 for an account of how female prisoners have been treated in Iranian prisons since the Islamic Revolution.
- See the NYTimes story in which Khomeini attacks Reagan for supporting Bahá'ís.
- In 1985 a 45-page booklet entitled The Story of Mona: 1965-1983 was published by Bahá'î Canada Publications, under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada.
- Also in 1985 a music video called Mona and Children was made by Douglas John Cameron and friends.
- In 2003 a play, A New Dress for Mona by Mark Perry was produced by the Drama Circle.
- Lenz Entertainment produced a screenplay entitled Mona's Dream. It was written by Houshang Touzie and Jack Lenz and won the 2010 Female Eye Audience Choice Screenplay Award. Facebook.
- In June of 2017 the book, Our Friend Mona: The Remarkable Life of a Young Martyr by Azadeh Rohanian Perry and Mark E Perry (with the assistance of Mona's mother, Mrs. Farkhundih Mahmudnizhad) was published by Circle of Spirit.
- Further details about the lives of the ten women as well as the history of their arrest and public execution can be found here.
- The Revolutionary Prosecuter in the execution of all 22 Bahá'ís during that period was Farshad Seyyed Zia Mir-Amadi. iiiii
- See Iran Press Watch 21 June 2023 for the article Who Were the Perpetrators of the Mass Execution of 10 Baha'i Women in Shiraz?. The article also delineates the measures taken by the families of the prisoners to appeal their sentences and mentions the intervention by President Ronald Regan.
- See Olya's Story: A Survivor's Dramatic Account of the Persecution of Bahá'ís in Revolutionary Iran by Olya Roohizadegan. It is an account of a young woman imprisioned at the same time as the 10 martyrs. It was published by Oneworld Publications 1 June 1993.
- 1983-06-24 — In response to the hanging of 10 Bahá'í women in Shíráz, the Universal House of Justice addressed a cable to the Bahá'í youth throughout the world, urging them to re-dedicate themselves to the Cause. [BW19:187–8, 297]
- 1984-01-03 — The Universal House of Justice addressed a letter to the Bahá'í youth of the world encouraging them to volunteer a period of service to the Bahá'í Faith. [AWH14–17; BW19:297–8, 299, 311–13; VV116]
- 1984-12-24 — The first National Bahá'í Youth Conference to be held in Greece took place in Athens. [BW19:319]
- 1985-04-05 — An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Bophuthatswana, attended by 198 people. [BW19:300]
- 1985-07-03 — An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Columbus, Ohio, United States attended by more than 3,200 youth from 42 nations. [BW19:300]
- 1985-07-26 —
The European Bahá'í Youth Conference was held in Antwerp, Belgium, in July 1985, and was attended by some 1,450 youth from 45 nations. The youth addressed the European Parliament and the Council of Europe in letters which told of their resolve to put into action the International Youth Year themes of 'Participation, Development and Peace'. The youth spoke of programs in which Bahá'ís were supporting the themes, including human rights education and social and economic development projects. [BW19:301]
- For picture see BW19:315.
- 1985-08-00 —
An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Molepolole, Botswana, attended by 119 youth from six countries. [BW19:300]
- For picture see BW19:320.
- 1985-08-00 — An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in New Delhi, India, attended by more than 550 youth from 24 countries. [BW19:300]
- 1985-08-01 — An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Port Dickson, Malaysia, attended by 1,300 youth from 15 countries, the largest gathering of Bahá'ís ever held in Malaysia. [BW19:301]
- 1985-08-02 —
An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Lima, Peru, attended by 500 youth from 18 countries and representing four native tribes. [BW19:300]<
- For picture see BW19:322.
- 1985-08-08 —
An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Kauai, Hawaii, attended by 300 youth from nine Pacific countries. [BW19:301]
- For picture see BW19:321.
- 1985-10-00 — The first National Bahá'í Youth Conference in Nepal took place, attended by 120 Bahá'ís, the largest Bahá'í gathering ever held in the country. [VV74]
- 1986-04-00 — The first province-wide gathering of Bahá'í youth in Northern Ireland convenes. [BINS154:15]
- 1986-07-18 — The European Bahá'í Youth Movement is launched at the Bahá'í Youth School, Landegg Conference Centre, Switzerland. [BINS157:9–10; BINS158:10]
- 1987-01-16 — The first Youth Conference of the Bahamas was held with representation from three islands. [BINS173:9]
- 1988-08-03 — The first Iberian Youth Conference was held in Lisbon, attended by 120 Bahá'ís from nine European countries. [BINS181:6]
- 1988–12- — The first National Youth Conference of Côte d'Ivoire took place. [BINS196:9]
- 1989-07-01 — Five European Regional 'Peace Moves' Youth Conferences were held in different parts of the continent.
- 1989-11-04 — The European Bahá'í Youth Council, comprised of seven youth and appointed by the Universal House of Justice to coordinate those European youth activities that have a continental impact, met for the first time, in London. [BINS213:4; BW93–4:121]
- 1989-12-18 — During the Youth Winter School in Traben-Trarback participants from 12 countries including East Germany, Romania, Hungary and the Soviet Union gathered for the first time since the Second World War. [BINS215:2]
- 1990-00-05 —
The first Adam Benke Project was organized by the Bahá'í European Youth Council in Bulgaria.
- The first semi-public talks and lectures in Bulgaria were given in restaurants, where people are invited to private meetings.
- Eleven people become Bahá'ís.
- 1990-07-00 — The first youth conference of Estonia was held in Kabli, near Parnu, attended by some 113 participants from all parts of Europe
- 1990-11-22 — The First European Bahá'í Youth Encounter was held in the Canary Islands, attended by over 150 people from eight countries. [BINS239:1]
- 1992-09-25 — The first Bahá'í Youth Conference of Lithuania took places in Kaunas, attended by 32 Bahá'ís. [BINS281:1]
- 1993-02-20 — The first National Youth Conference of Hungary was held in Debrecen, attended by 60 youth. [BINS289:3]
- 1993-08-00 — The first International Bahá'í Youth Conference of Belarus was held, attended by 164 people from 16 countries. [BINS299:8; BINS306:7; BW93–4:123]
- 1994-05-22 — The first Bahá'í Children and Youth Conference of Martinique was held in Fort-de-France, attended by 22 people. [BINS318:4–5]
- 1994-07-20 — The European Bahá'í Youth Council sponsored five regional 'Shaping Europe' conferences, in Berlin, Bucharest, St Petersburg, Barcelona and Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. [BINS323:3–5; BW94–5:177–8, 189]
- 1994-09-09 —
The first National Youth Conference of Liberia was held, attended by 75 youth. [BW94–5:188–9]
- For picture see BW94–5:189.
- 2006-05-19 — Iranian security officials arrested 54 Bahá'ís in the city of Shiraz who were involved in a community service project, many of them in their teens and early 20's. They were not charged and all but three were released within six days. It was the largest mass arrest of Bahá'ís since the 1980's. [New York Times 1 June, 2006]
- 2013-07-00 —
The holding of 114 Youth Conferences around the world at the request of the Universal House of Justice. The purpose of the gatherings were to explore such themes as the characteristics inherent to the period of youth, the historical contribution of young people to the transformation of society, the responsibilities of the present generation of youth, the society-building power of the Bahá'í Teachings, and the importance of faith and tenacity to a life of service. [List of places and dates for Youth Conferences]
- See The Five Year Plan 2011-2016: Summary of Achievements and Learning pg46-43.
- 2016-08-10 —
Armed officers, masked in balaclavas from Yemen's National Security Bureau (NSB) intelligence agency, which worked hand in hand with the armed Houthi authorities, (also knowns as Ansar Allah) stormed a Bahá'í youth educational workshop in Sana'a. The event was part of a nine day, cross country moral and educational program for Bahá'í youth organized by the Bahá'í -run Nida Foundation for Development. Sixty-five people were arrested including 14 women and six people under 18 without an arrest warrant. Half were Bahá'ís and, at the time of this writing, it was believed some fourteen remained in prison, including young mothers. Further arrests were carried out later and within a week all but 10 of those who had been incarcerated had been released.
- Among those detained are Nadim Tawfiq Al-Sakkaf, (British Council's country manager in Yemen), his brother Nader Tawfiq Al-Sakkaf and Kaiwan Mohamed Ali Qadri.
[UN Human Rights 4 Oct 2016, BWNS1118, publicaffairs.bahai.us, UN Human Rights, Defending Bahá'í Rights facebook page]
- 2018-01-25 —
The announcement of the opening of an educational centre at the Bahá'í Lotus Temple. The educational facility, which can accommodate hundreds, will be used to host camps, courses, and seminars for youth and young adults who are involved in efforts to improve their communities. With the opening of the new educational facility, many more will be able to attend these programs than was previously possible.-
Shaheen Javid, General Manager of the House of Worship reported that the Temple, which opened in 1986, received 10,000–15,000 visitors on weekdays and over 35,000 on weekends.
[BWNS1234]
- 2018-04-31 —
Some 80 members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors met for a conference at the Bahá'í World Centre following the 12th International Bahá'í Convention. On that occasion, the Counsellors were able to reflect on major developments in Bahá'í communities around the world. In order to share their experiences some of their stories were recorded and made available via podcasts. The Counsellors discussed the impact of spiritual and moral education programs offered by the Bahá'í community on youth and the communities in which they live, drawing on experiences in Cambodia, Kiribati, India, Norway, Spain, and Timor Leste (or East Timor). [BWNS1264]
- Counsellors in Africa, Alain Pierre Djoulde, Clément Thyrrell Feizouré, Maina Mkandawire, and Judicaël Mokolédiscuss discussed endeavours in the field of education in that continent. [BWNS1269]
- The podcasts can be found here or on SoundCloud.
- 2024-08-24 — The publication of the statement In the Vanguard: The Role of Youth in an Ever-Advancing Global Society, by the New York Office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC). It calls for a rethinking of how youth are perceived and engaged by communities and institutions with the aim of creating conditions that allow their capacities to flourish and it explores the profound potential of young people in fostering societal transformation and contributing to an ever-advancing global society. [BWNS1744]
The BIC statement can be viewed here.
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