Habíbu’lláh Panahi
Habíbu’lláh Panahi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1933 Azerbaijan, Iran |
| Died | February 4, 1980 Urumiyyih, Iran |
Habíbu’lláh Panahi (1933 - February 4, 1980) was a Persian Bahá’í who was martyred in the wake of the 1979 Revolution in Iran.
Background[edit]
Panahi was born into a Bahá’í family in the Persian province of Azerbaijan in 1933. He was raised in Tabriz where he completed high school and he moved to Urumiyyih in 1956 where he established a business and in approximately 1958 he was elected to the cities Local Spiritual Assembly.[1]
Panahi frequently received death threats due to his religion at his business was destroyed by arson at some point forcing him to leave Urumiyyih. He lived in several cities across Iran for a few months and then returned to Urumiyyih to re-establish his business but due to continuing to receive threats he had his family move out of Iran for their protection.[1]
Panahi was re-elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly after returning to Urumiyyih and on February 1, 1980, he was shot in the head outside his home after an Assembly meeting. He was discovered by a Bahá’í youth while still alive and admitted to a hospital but passed due to his injuries on February 4, 1980. His wife returned to Iran for his funeral and he was buried in accordance with Bahá’í law.[1]
