[PROVISIONAL TRANSLATION FROM PERSIAN]

 

[Translator’s notes appear in square brackets]

[Personal information has been redacted.]

 

[Emblem]

[The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Iran]

Date: 5 Nour 104, 18/3/1326 [9 June 1947]

Number: 1230;

 

Honourable Ashraf^[1], Prime Minister Qavamol-Saltanah,

 

With utmost respect, we convey the following:  In a previous letter dated 5/3/1326 [25 May 1947], a report of the atrocities committed against the Baha’is was brought to your honour’s attention, and we implored you to issue clear instructions to end this abuse and violations [of the civil rights of the Baha’is].   At present, because of the urgency of this matter, we must convey the following:

 

On 11/3/1326, [9 June 1947], one of the clerics from Qom went to Shahi, and on the pulpit, encouraged the people to revolt against the Baha’is in that area, and provoked them to fanaticism in such a way that last Friday, people gathered with the intention of harassing and injuring Baha’is.

 

A few days ago, in Shahzand, a number of fanatics attacked a Baha’i owned house in the middle of the night,, demolishing the house’s doors and windows.

 

In Arak, one of the clerics who travels from Tehran to the city encourages and incites the crowd in the mosque to rising up against the Baha’is, and it is suspected that out of all these acts of provocation, the fire of sedition burns intensely and the lives and property of a group of innocent people are consequently in danger.

 

In Kerman and Sirjan, and in some other places, scholars and clerics, both in writing and orally, , continuously encourage and persuade people to rise up against and harass the Baha’is.

 

Although this Assembly is well aware of the many preoccupations that beset Your Honour, and it is true that we should not be impose upon you, but because the Baha’is of Iran have no choice but to refer to the esteemed authorities, and especially to Your Honour, it is inevitable that this Assembly, as a representative of the Baha’i community, must refer the matter to you, asking for your attention and requesting that clear instructions be sent to the relevant authorities to prevent the incitement and unrest fomented by troublemakers and  instigators, so that the Baha’is, like the rest of the people, may enjoy the protection of the law and [thus be able to fulfil] their civil and social duties.

 

Secretary of the [National Spiritual] Assembly: Ali-Akbar Furutan,

[Signature]

 

Chairperson of National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of Iran,

[Signature: Shoa Alaei]

 

[Stamp: National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Iran, Year 91(1934)]

 

[Handwritten Note:] Please bring to His Honour’s attention.

 

 

[1] [Ashraf means “The Most Noble”, it is the title of Prime Minister Ahmad Ghavam; it was given to him by the Iranian shah, Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi].