Kámíl ‘Abbás
Kámíl ‘Abbás | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1911 Iraq |
| Died | June 5, 1980 Baghdad, Iraq |
| NSA member | Iraq 1935 - ???? |
| ABM | Asia 1957 - ???? |
Kámíl ‘Abbás (1911 - June 5, 1980) was an Iraqi Bahá’í who served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Iraq and as an Auxiliary Board Assembly member. He assisted with the development of Bahá’í communities across Arabia, and also in India and Pakistan, and notably assisted in locating the remains of Mírzá Buzurg, the father of Bahá’u’lláh. He was also the first pioneer to the Seychelles for which he was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh.
Biography[edit]
‘Abbás was born in 1911 into a Bahá’í family, his father having declared in 1898. He was raised in Baghdad and in his youth he became fluent in Persian, English, and German, and became a competent typist. In 1928 he wrote to Shoghi Effendi in which he noted he wanted to serve the Faith and he received a reply.[1]
‘Abbás was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Baghdad and served on the Bahá’í Youth Committee of Baghdad in his youth and in 1935 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Iraq. He was selected to be a delegate of the Bahá’í community at a United Nations Conference of non-governmental organizations held in Turkey in 1951 and was questioned by the secret police of Iraq after returning regarding why he had visited Turkey.[1]
In 1953 the Ten Year Crusade was launched and ‘Abbás volunteered to open the Seychelles to the Faith. He attended the Intercontinental Conference in New Delhi, India, then travelled on to the Seychelles directly from India arriving in November, 1953. He had to depart the country at the end of December as he was denied a residency visa and was in poor health, but had been able to teach the Faith to Marshall Delcy before departing.[1]
‘Abbás returned to Iraq from the Seychelles and from Iraq he made visits to several countries across Arabia at the request of Shoghi Effendi. He was appointed an Auxiliary Board member for Protection for Asia in 1957 and made several visits to India, Pakistan, and Iran while serving in the role. In 1957 he assisted in locating the remains of Mírzá Buzurg.[2]
In 1963 ‘Abbás cast a vote in the establishment of the Universal House of Justice as a member of the Iraq National Assembly and the same year he also attended the First Bahá’í World Congress in London, England.[2] He made an extended visit to Tehran, Iran, from 1966 to 1967 and after arriving back in Iraq he settled in Baghdad and ceased making international travels.[3] He assisted in documenting the Bayt-i-‘Aẓam in the early 1970's.[2]
In 1973 ‘Abbás was arrested due to his religion and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was pressured to recant his Faith while in prison but refused. He was released from prison in September, 1979, however the following year he fell ill and was hospitalized. He passed away in June, 1980, in the Hospital that had been constructed on the grounds of the Garden of Riḍván.[2] The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after his passing:
DEEPLY GRIEVED PASSING KNIGHT BAHAULLAH STAUNCH STEADFAST PROMOTER FAITH ABLE DEFENDER COVENANT KAMIL ABBAS WHOSE MANIFOLD SERVICES PIONEERING TEACHING FIELDS LOVINGLY REMEMBERED. PRAYING[4]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 122
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 123
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1986). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 18 (1979-1983), Pg(s) 723. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1986). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 18 (1979-1983), Pg(s) 723. View as PDF.
