Hormoz Zendeh
Hormoz Zendeh (b. 1934, also transliterated Hurmuz Zindih) was a Persian Bahá’í who was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for pioneering to Morocco.
Background[edit]
Zendeh was born into a Bahá’í family in 1934. His mother was named Homayun and his father was Zabihu'llah. He had an older brother, Farhang, and two younger brothers Sohail and Sepehr.[1]
In the early 1950's Zendeh's parents went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land and were informed of the importance of pioneering in relation to the Ten Year Crusade. Zendeh was inspired to pioneer but was informed it was unlikely he would be granted a passport as he had not yet completed any military service.[2]
Despite his lack of military service Zendeh was able to secure travel documents and he traveled to Rome, Italy, with his uncle Manúchihr Hizárí and then to Madrid, Spain. From Madrid they drove to Algericas and then caught a ferry to Tangier, Morocco, arriving on September 30, 1953. While the Spanish authorities in Morocco had granted them permission to stay Zendeh and his uncle were deported by the French authorities on October 21, 1953. They returned to Madrid where they secured permission to return to Tangier from the French authorities and arrived in Tangier again on November 20, 1953.[3]
Zendeh's uncle established a small shop in Tangier and Zendeh assisted him in hosting prayer meetings an firesides.[3] In Ridvan 1954 the Local Spiritual Assembly of Tangier was established and Hizárí's parents, wife, and daughter moved to Tangier to join him. Zendeh helped them settle in the country organizing for their housing and a translator. Around this time he also joined a sporting club in order to make more local connections.[3]
In 1955 Zendeh accompanied Egyptian pioneer Shoghi-Riaz Rouhani on a trip to the Canary Islands as the community had requested assistance with establishing a Local Spiritual Assembly. As the community already had eight members Zendeh settled in the islands and was elected to the inaugural Local Spiritual Assembly with Rouhani returning to Tangier. Zendeh remained in the Canary Islands until July 1956 when another Canary Islander declared allowing him to return to Tangier without the Assembly lapsing. His family had pioneered to Tangier by the time he returned and he assisted his father in establishing a business then pioneered to Tetuan to assist with establishing an Assembly.[1]
In August 1957 Zendeh moved to Germany to attend University ultimately marrying and settling in Baden-Wurttemberg.[1]
