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Situation in Egypt |
I have already referred in my previous communications of January
10, 1926, and February 12, 1927, to the perplexing yet highly
significant situation that has arisen in Egypt as a result of the final
judgment of the Muslim ecclesiastical court in that country pronounced
against our Egyptian brethren, denouncing them as heretics,
expelling them from their midst, and refusing them the application
and benefits of the Muslim Law. I have also acquainted you
with the difficulties with which they are faced, and the plans which
they have conceived, in order to obtain from the Egyptian civil
authorities a recognition of the independent status of their Faith.
It must be explained, however, that in the Muslim countries of
the Near and Middle East, with the exception of Turkey which
has lately abolished all ecclesiastical courts under its rule, every
recognized religious community has, in matters of personal status
such as marriage, divorce and inheritance, its own ecclesiastical
court, totally independent of the civil and criminal tribunals, there
being in such instances no civil code promulgated by the government
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and embracing all the different religious communities. Hitherto
regarded as a sect of Islám, the Bahá’ís of Egypt, who for the most
part are of Muslim origin, and unable therefore to refer for purposes
of marriage and divorce to the recognized religious tribunals
of any other denomination, find themselves in consequence in a
delicate and anomalous position. They have naturally resolved to
refer their case to the Egyptian Government, and have prepared for
this purpose a petition to be addressed to the head of the Egyptian
Cabinet. In this document they have set forth the motives compelling
them to seek recognition from their rulers, have asserted
their readiness and their qualifications to exercise the functions
of an independent Bahá’í court, have assured them of their implicit
obedience and loyalty to the State, and of their abstinence from interference
in the politics of their country. They have also decided
to accompany the text of their petition with a copy of the judgment
of the Court, with selections from Bahá’í writings, and with the
document that sets forth the principles of their national constitution
which, with few exceptions, is identical with the Declaration
and By-laws promulgated by your Assembly.
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I have insisted that the provisions of their constitution should,
in all its details, conform to the text of the Declaration of Trust
and By-laws which you have established, endeavoring thereby to
preserve the uniformity which I feel is essential in all Bahá’í National
Constitutions. I would like, therefore, in this connection to
request of you what I have already intimated to them, that whatever
amendments you may decide to introduce in the text of the Declaration
and By-laws should be duly communicated to me, that I may
take the necessary steps for the introduction of similar changes in
the text of all other National Bahá’í Constitutions.
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It will be readily admitted that in view of the peculiar privileges
granted to recognized religious Communities in the Islamic countries
of the Near and Middle East, the request which is to be submitted
by the Bahá’í Egyptian National Assembly to the Government
of Egypt is more substantial and far-reaching than what has
already been granted by the Federal Authorities to your Assembly.
For their petition is chiefly concerned with a formal request for
recognition by the highest civil authorities in Egypt of the Egyptian
National Spiritual Assembly as a recognized and independent Bahá’í
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court, free and able to execute and apply in all matters of personal
status such laws and ordinances as have been promulgated by
Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.
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I have asked them to approach informally the authorities concerned,
and to make the fullest possible inquiry as a preliminary
measure to the formal presentation of their historic petition. Any
assistance which your Assembly, after careful deliberation, may
find it advisable to offer to the valiant promoters of the Faith in
that land will be deeply appreciated, and will serve to confirm the
solidarity that characterizes the Bahá’í Communities of East and
West. Whatever the outcome of this mighty issue—and none can
fail to appreciate the incalculable possibilities of the present situation—we can rest assured that the guiding Hand that has released
these forces will, in His inscrutable wisdom and by His omnipotent
power, continue to shape and direct their course for the glory, the
ultimate emancipation, and the unqualified recognition of His Faith.
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