The Baha'i history is often told as a story of persecution, with its leaders exiled from Persia and moved across the Ottoman Empire for their beliefs.
But how did the path of this "peaceful" faith become strategically intertwined with the British Empire's geopolitical ambitions and the complex origins of the state of Israel? This article peels back the layers of official history, exploring surprising connections revealed in archival documents that link the Baha'i leadership's final exile in Palestine to a grander story of empire, land, and control of the Suez Canal.
Not Just Persecution: The Babi Exiles Were Triggered by a Decree for Holy Murder
The story of the Baha'i exiles began not with external oppression, but with a structural violence embedded in the faith’s own scripture. While persecution was a factor, the initial chain of events that drove the Babi community (the precursor to the Baha'is) out of Persia was triggered by violent internal conflict in Ottoman Iraq. The root of this chaos was a specific command from the Bab, the faith's founder, in his book the Bayán-i-Farsi:
"for the execution of whoever distresses him [the Promised One] from the face of the earth, in whatever way possible"
و الحکم علی اعدام من یحزننه من فوق الارض بما یمکن.
After the Bab's death, this decree had a devastating effect. At least 25 different individuals claimed to be the "Promised One," plunging the Babi community into a period of assassinations and turmoil as rival factions sought to eliminate their competition. The situation became so dangerous that Baha'u'llah, the future founder of the Baha'i Faith, disappeared for two years into the mountains of Sulaymaniyah. Crucially, he was not fleeing the Ottoman or Persian governments; he was fleeing the threat of assassination by his fellow Babis.
This internal violence reframes the narrative: the Baha'i leadership became a complex political problem for Ottoman authorities to manage, creating an opportunity that British intelligence would soon exploit.
A British Gambit: Why the Empire Moved Baha'u'llah to the Doorstep of the Suez Canal
The ultimate decision to send Baha'u'llah to Akka, Palestine, was not a random act by the Ottomans; it was a strategic move proposed by the British. The key to understanding this geopolitical shift lies in the testimony of Asadullah Mamqani, the Iranian embassy's legal officer in Istanbul at the time. According to his records, the British ambassador was the one who suggested the final locations for the rival Babi leaders.
The British motive was purely strategic. First, to move the rival factions away from the Russian border, where their presence in Edirne was a security concern. Second, and more importantly, to relocate them to Palestine, a region squarely within Britain's sphere of influence and of critical importance. The timing was no coincidence: Baha'u'llah’s exile to Akka in 1868 occurred in perfect simultaneity with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the Empire's new imperial artery. The British ambassador specifically noted that Baha'u'llah was "more political" than his rival brother, making his placement in this vital region a potentially valuable asset.
Baha'u'llah himself was a conscious political actor, fully aware of the imperial games at play. In a letter written to the Ottoman Sultan, he complained about his situation, explicitly acknowledging the forces shaping his fate: "You exiled me for the satisfaction of the Iranian government..." This British-engineered placement created the perfect conditions for the next phase of a much longer operation.
The Perfect Cover: 'Abdu'l-Baha's 50-Year Persona as a Muslim Imam
To operate effectively in Palestine, 'Abdu'l-Baha (Baha'u'llah's son and successor) adopted a dual identity—a strategy contrary to Baha'i teachings but essential for the mission. Upon arriving in Palestine, and for the next five decades until his death in 1921, 'Abdu'l-Baha regularly served as the Imam for the local Muslim community. He led public prayers in the grand mosques of Akka and Haifa, meticulously establishing himself as a pious and trusted religious figure.
This public persona was a strategic masterstroke. It provided him with the social standing and, most importantly, the legal credibility needed to navigate Ottoman law. This trusted identity as a high-standing member of the Muslim community was the essential prerequisite for his role in the complex and legally questionable land transactions that would define his time in Palestine. Furthermore, this "perfect cover" created a stable, pro-Western social anchor in a region Britain viewed as the primary buffer zone for its most critical imperial artery—the Suez Canal.
The Smoking Gun: An 1893 Ottoman Report Exposes a Secret Land-Selling Network
The paper trail leads directly to an explosive 1893 report from the Ottoman Prime Ministry Archives, which lays bare the mechanics of a sophisticated land transfer operation. This document, dated 1309 AH, serves as a "smoking gun," detailing the structure of a network designed to circumvent Ottoman laws that strictly forbade the sale of land to foreign settlers. The report’s damning findings reveal:
- It explicitly names 'Abbas Effendi ('Abdu'l-Baha) as the leader of this network.
- The report details the network's method: acquiring land from indebted Muslim villagers at bargain prices.
- It then resold these properties to foreign Jewish settlers, including clients of Baron Hirsch, for exorbitant profits.
- The entire operation was engineered to bypass Ottoman laws prohibiting such sales to foreign nationals.
The report’s conclusion is unambiguous:
"...'Abbas Effendi the Iranian, who has considerable wealth in Akka and is capable of doing anything with his influence, along with his like-minded associates, buys the lands of powerless individuals at very cheap prices each time and, after preparing them, sells them to Jews and foreigners at exorbitant prices and makes a fortune."
This official document provides clear, contemporary evidence of the system that facilitated the transfer of land ownership from the local population to foreign settlers. The scale of this operation would not go unrecognized.
Imperial Acknowledgment and Modern Confirmation: From a British Knighthood to an Israeli Academic
'Abdu'l-Baha's value to the British Empire became undeniable during World War I, when he actively collaborated with the British army by helping to supply their troops during the Palestine campaign. For these services, the British government awarded 'Abdu'l-Baha a knighthood in 1919—an honor reserved for those who provided a special and universal advantage for the Empire.
This long-standing operation has also been confirmed in modern times, declassifying the final piece of the puzzle. Dr. Soli Shahvar, head of the Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at the University of Haifa, has stated the connection plainly:
"The early Jews were among the Baha'is in the Haifa area and in the transactions they had here. Before the establishment of the state of Israel, during the British Mandate, Jews bought land from the Baha'is and built buildings there."
This acknowledgment from an Israeli academic completes the historical chain of evidence, connecting the dots from the 1893 Ottoman report through the British Mandate period and up to the eve of Israel's founding.
A Geopolitical Masterstroke
The historical record reveals a remarkable story. A journey that began with violent internal religious conflict was expertly steered by the British Empire to serve its strategic interests. The engineered exile of the Baha'i leadership to Palestine created the perfect conditions for a decades-long operation that aligned perfectly with Britain's long-term goals for the region.
Under the cover of a respected religious persona, 'Abdu'l-Baha's network became an effective and clandestine tool for engineering the transfer of land ownership from the local population to foreign settlers. The evidence is unequivocal: without that Baha'i leadership network in Akka and Haifa, the path for the secret transfer of ownership and the groundwork for Israel would not have been possible in this way. This hidden history suggests that the foundation of a nation was built not only on grand political movements, but also on a subtle, fifty-year campaign of real estate acquisition.
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