Buzurg ‘Alavíyán
Buzurg ‘Alavíyán (1922 - June 23, 1981) was a Persian Bahá’í who assisted with the maintenance and construction of Bahá’í properties in Iran. He was martyred following the Iranian Revolution.
Biography[edit]
‘Alavíyán was born into a Bahá’í family in Mahfuruzak, Mazandaran province, in 1922 where he completed his primary and high school education. After graduating from school he completed an engineering degree at Tehran University then undertook two years of compulsory military service. After leaving the military he worked as a high school teacher in Babol.[1]
After working for the Ministry of Education for twelve years ‘Alavíyán began working for a construction company and after a few years he co-founded an engineering company which came to be highly respected throughout the country. He worked in several cities and used his expertise in construction to assist with repairs to Bahá’í Holy places and the construction of Bahá’í centers. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Umaná Company, responsible for overseeing Bahá’í properties in Iran, and in 1980 he was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Tehran.[1]
On October 4, 1980, ‘Alavíyán was summoned to appear before a Revolutionary Court and was arrested and held in Evin prison. He was executed by firing squad on June 22, 1981, alongside two fellow Bahá’ís. Their bodies were laid to rest in the Tehran Bahá’í cemetery with a large number of people attending their funerals.[1]
