THE BAHA'IS AND THE UNITED KINGDOM

For many Britons, the word "Baha'i" is unfamiliar. But the Baha'i community has enjoyed a long and distinguished history in Britain.

The first mention of the Baha'i Faith in the United Kingdom was made in The Times of London on 1 November 1845 - just a year after the birth of the new religious movement - when the British mission in Teheran reported on the horrifying persecution inflicted upon the young community by the authorities in Persia.

In April 1890, the renowned English orientalist, Professor Edward G. Browne of Cambridge University, was granted four interviews with Baha'u'llah, who was nearing the end of his life in exile in Israel. Browne left the only detailed description of the faith's founder by a Westerner.

'Abdu'l-Baha (1844-1921), the son and successor of Baha'u'llah, visited Britain twice, in 1911 and in 1912-13. He was knighted by the British government in 1920 for humanitarian services during the years of the First World War.

The year 2001 marks the 90th anniversary of the first visit to Britain by 'Abdu'l-Baha. He had spent more than 50 years of his life in exile and imprisonment before being freed in 1908. Although in his late 60s, he immediately made plans to travel and promote his father's message of social and spiritual reform.

Much was changing in Britain at this time. The Liberal government had begun addressing many of the critical issues arising from a greater consciousness of the extremes of poverty and wealth in Britain. The influence on mainstream thinking of left-wing ideologies and the rise of trade unionism resulted in the introduction of old-age pensions, free school meals, the establishment of labour exchanges and sickness and unemployment benefits. Most vocal in the call for change was the movement for women's suffrage.

'Abdu'l-Baha arrived in London on 4th September 1911. One of his distinguished British followers, Lady Sara Blomfield, described him as "an incarnation of loving understanding, of compassion and power, of wisdom and authority, of strength, and of buoyant youthfulness, which somehow defied the burden of His years..."

Lady Blomfield gave over her home at 97 Cadogan Gardens for the use of 'Abdu'l-Baha. Here, he met both people of prominence and humble laymen and women. In her memoirs, Lady Blomfield recalled, "they came from every country in the world!...Ministers and missionaries, Oriental scholars and occult students, practical men of affairs and mystics, Anglican-Catholics and Nonconformists, Theosophists and Hindus, Christian Scientists and doctors of medicine, Muslims, Buddhists and Zoroastrians. There also called: politicians, Salvation Army soldiers, and other workers for human good, women suffragists, journalists, writers, poets, and healers, dressmakers and great ladies, artists and artisans, poor workless people and prosperous merchants, members of the dramatic and musical world, these all came; and none were too lowly, nor too great to receive the sympathetic consideration of this holy messenger, who was ever giving His life for others' good." Among those who visited 'Abdu'l-Baha in London were the famous suffagette, Emmeline Pankhurst, whom he encouraged to continue in her work, to help women take their rightful place in the world.

'Abdu'l-Baha returned again to England at the end of 1912, docking in Liverpool on the 13th December after an epic journey through the United States. Once again, followers and friends, dignitaries and diplomats, turned out in force to meet this wise man from the East. A remarkable cosmopolitan gathering was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel on the evening of Friday 20th December where 'Abdu'l-Baha addressed scientists and diplomats, Oriental visitors and leading thinkers of the day. He bewailed the plight of the Balkans where blood was 'being freely and copiously shed, lives are being destroyed, houses are pillaged, cities are razed to the ground, and this through religious prejudice; while in reality the foundation of the religion of God is love.'

Much of the goodwill generated by 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit diminished during the dark years of the Great War. However the small community of his followers struggled on promoting his message of peace and successive new generations of Baha'is continued to work to emulate his great love and service to humanity. 'Abdu'l-Baha's successor Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957) was in England studying at Balliol College, Oxford when, upon the passing of `Abdu'l-Baha in 1921, he became the head of the Baha'i Faith. In November, 1957, Shoghi Effendi died suddenly during a visit to London. His grave can be found at New Southgate Cemetery. This has become an international place of pilgrimage.

In 1963, the first Baha'i World Congress was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, attracting thousands of participants from all over the world, taking part in the election of the international governing council of the world Baha'i community.

With the resumption of persecution of Iran's Baha'is following the revolution in 1979, the United Kingdom government made exceptional efforts to express outrage at their treatment.