Serrollah Vahdat

Serrollah Vahdat

Serrollah Vahdat-Nezami (February 15, 1931 - May 4, 1986) was a Persian Bahá’í who served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Tehran. He was martyred for his beliefs.

Biography

Vahdat was born into a Bahá’í family in 1931. In his youth his family experienced persecution due to their beliefs with land owned by the family being confiscated after the passing of his father. He completed his secondary schooling in Tehran then enrolled in the Military Academy graduating as an army officer in 1955. He had a successful military career ultimately achieving the rank of Colonel and serving as the Commander in Chief of the Tehran military academy.

Vahdat was an active Bahá’í serving on several committees and Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout Iran during his life. He retired from his military service six months before the onset of the Revolution in Iran. Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979 Vahdat had his pension cancelled due to his religious beliefs and became seriously ill requiring hospitalization although he recovered after six months. In 1981 several members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Tehran were martyred and he was elected to the body and after Bahá’í institutions were dissolved on the Government orders in 1983 he would travel to visit Bahá’ís in order to provide comfort and consolation.

Vahdat was arrested on February 13, 1986, while visiting a Bahá’í whose home was being monitored by government officials due to his previous membership on the Tehran Assembly, and he was held in Evin prison, initially in solitary confinement, and severely tortured. On May 4, 1986, he was executed by hanging. His body was not returned to his family.