THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARIAT
Bahá’í World Centre • P.O. Box 155 • 31001 Haifa, Israel
Tel: 972 (4) 835 8358 • Fax: 972 (4) 835 8280 • Email: secretariat@bwc.org
5 April 2007
Transmitted by email: uzbnsa@mail.ru
uzbnsa@yahoo.com
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Uzbekistan
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
The Universal House of Justice has received your email letters of 29 March and 5 April 2007 concerning the recent incident in Bukhara, and it also received several communications from one of the individuals involved, Mr. Olim Saidov Abdurasulovich. We have been asked to respond as follows.
In the letter of 29 March, you indicate that the police entered the workshop of one of the Bahá’ís and found literature about the Faith on the premises. It is understood that the Bahá’ís were accused of holding a religious gathering outside of the Bahá’í Centre and subsequently called to a court hearing, where they were fined US$50. With regard to your question concerning whether you should appeal the court’s decision, the House of Justice feels it would be better to pay the fines imposed and not allow the significance of this occurrence to be exaggerated. Nevertheless, the views of your Assembly as to whether the incident may be part of a concerted campaign of opposition to the Faith in Uzbekistan are sought. The House of Justice may provide further guidance upon receiving your comments.
It is noted from your letter of 5 April that you fear the friends in Bukhara may allow what has happened to affect their enthusiasm for taking part in Bahá’í activities. Your Spiritual Assembly needs to explain to the believers that, in this case, it was felt that appealing the payment of fines would not assist in protecting the community and therefore was not the best approach. They can be assured that you will continue to monitor the situation and that they should have no hesitation in continuing to teach the Faith with courage and steadfastness. The House of Justice will offer prayers in the Holy Shrines on behalf of your Assembly, that Bahá’u’lláh may bestow upon you His loving guidance and divine assistance in dealing with this situation. It will also offer prayers on behalf of the friends involved.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Department of the Secretariat
cc: International Teaching Centre
Board of Counsellors in Asia
Counsellor Ayman Rouhani
Bahá’í World Centre • P.O. Box 155 • 31001 Haifa, Israel
Tel: 972 (4) 835 8358 • Fax: 972 (4) 835 8280 • Email: secretariat@bwc.org
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