page_title: Baháʼí Faith in Azerbaijan
section_title: First oppression
hierarchical_section_title: Baháʼí Faith in Azerbaijan / Beginnings / First oppression
caption_attribution_description: English: A Baha'i "character building" class in Baku, Russia, 1926. This very interesting picture shows a group of Baha'i children receiving instructions in the principles of character training.
context_page_description: The Baháʼí in Azerbaijan crosses a complex history of regional changes. Through that series of changes the thread of the Baháʼí Faith traces its history in the region from the earliest moments of the Bábism religion, accepted by Baháʼís as a predecessor religion, in that one of its most prominent figures, Tahirih, was an Azerbaijani. Followers of the religion formed communities in Nakhichevan before 1850. By the early 20th century the community, now centered in Baku, numbered perhaps 2000 individuals and several Baháʼí Local Spiritual Assemblies and had facilitated the favorable attention of local and regional, and international leaders of thought as well as long-standing leading figures in the religion. However under Soviet rule the Baháʼí community was almost ended though it was quickly reactivated as more than 30 years later when perestroyka loosened controls on religions. The community quickly rallied and re-elected its own National Spiritual Assembly in 1992.
context_section_description: From 1922 Soviet officials launched their initial campaigns against the Baháʼís including deportation of Baháʼí Iranian citizens to Iran and the exile of others to Siberia, publications and schools were banned, as well as collective meetings.  Regardless, a new wave of national organization was achieved with the election of the regional National Assembly of the Baháʼís of the Caucasus and Turkistan in 1925. However, in 1928 orders were dispersed among the Baháʼí communities suspending all meetings, and suppressing all local and national administration. Prohibitions were placed on the raising of funds, and Baháʼí youth and children's clubs were ordered closed. By about 1937 only the assembly of Baku and Ashgabat were still functioning though the membership of the Baku assembly had been elected three times in two years because the first two set of members were arrested en masse and exiled to Siberia. The third set was mostly women. In 1937, with the NKVD (Soviet secret police) and the policy of religious oppression the Soviets began a sweep against the Baháʼís on October 13 and in a few days all the members of the spiritual assembly of Baku and dozens of others were arrested. The chairman was executed. It wasn't until 1956 when the Spiritual Assembly of Baku started to function again after a fashion but by the end of 1963 was ranked as only a community, not an assembly. The regional National Assembly of the Caucasus and Turkistan was disbanded.
caption: A Baha'i "character building" class in Baku, 1926 shows a group of Baha'i children receiving instructions in the principles of character training.
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