Hedi Moani
Hediatollah Moani (1944 - October, 1999) was a Persian Bahá’í who pioneered to Indonesia, Australia, the United States, and New Zealand. He was murdered in 1999 and the Universal House of Justice designated him a Martyr.
Biography[edit]
Moani was born into a Bahá’í family in Mahmoudabad, Iran, in 1944. His family had pioneered to Mahmoudabad and Moani and six of his eight brothers eventually served as international pioneers.[1]
Moani pioneered to Indonesia for a time before pioneering to Australia in 1963 where he completed a degree in architecture at Melbourne University. He lived in several cities across Australia until pioneering to the United States in 1978.[2]
In 1984 Moani returned to Australasia when he pioneered to New Zealand. He served on several Local Spiritual Assemblies across the country and was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand. He began a PhD in religious studies which he was still undertaking at the time of his passing.[2]
At some point between the 13th and 17th of October 1999 Moani was murdered when a member of the Maori Ratana Church beat him to death in his home. His murderer was distressed after the leader of the Church had passed and was angry at Moani who had introduced several Church members to the Bahá’í Faith. As the murder was religiously motivated the Universal House of Justice declared Moani a martyr and stated the following in a message after his passing:[2]
"... his commitment to the upliftment of the Maori people of New Zealand ... will long serve as an encouragement to others."[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2000). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 27 (1998-1999), Pg(s) 309. View as PDF.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2000). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 27 (1998-1999), Pg(s) 310. View as PDF.
