A 1997 article entitled "A Review of Secondary Literature in English on Recent Persecutions of Baha'is in Iran" refers to the Hojjatiyeh Mahdaviyeh Society, known before the Islamic revolution as the Anjuman-I-Tabligat-I-Islami, a religious organization whose aim was to "minimize the influence of the Ba'is in Iran" (Baha'is Studies Review 1997). The article also states that in 1955 the Shah of Iran gave his support to Hojjatiyeh anti-Bah'ai activities in order to receive support from the clergy in his campaign to undermine the Iranian Communist Party (Tudeh) (ibid.).

An article on the Bah'ais in Iran since the Islamic revolution published during the summer of 2000 on Bah'ai Library Online states that

to satisfy the more more radically anti-Baha'i ecclesiastical elements and to steer them away from opposition to the monarchy, the government permitted and even encouraged the formation of the Hojjatiyeh Society in 1953. The founder and leader, Sheykh Mahmud Zekrzadeh Tavallai, better known as Shaykh Muhmud Halabi, was a fanatical enemy of the Baha'i Faith, which he had studied as a seminarian and to which one of his best friends had been converted (Tayyeb, 1982). The Hojjatiyeh Society was endorsed by leading clerics such as Ayatollah Borujerdi and worked in close cooperation with the SAVAK, the political police, and became the principal antagonist of the Baha'is. Its activities included publication of anti-Baha'i pamphlets, denunciation of Baha'is to the authorities, and the disruption of Baha'i gatherings by gangs of toughs. The Hojjatiyeh Society would play an important role in the persecution of the Baha'is after the Islamic revolution (Social Research Summer 2000)

An article on the emergence of civil society in Iran published in 1996 in SAIS Review (Johns Hopkins University Press) states that the Hojjatiyeh groups in Iran shared with other groups, including "the Hezbollahis, the new Islamic left and parts of the traditional right within the government," the perspective of an "Islam-centric vision" of "Iran's future ideological orientation and identity."

A 29 November 1999 RFE/RL report states that the organization was forced to disband in 1983. As a result, the organization's leader Sheikh Mahmud Halabi moved to Mashad and its members continued to serve in their government positions after being integrated in the Islamic Coalition Association (Jamiyat-I Motalifih-yi Islami) (ibid.). Sheikh Mahmud Halabi was also the leader of the Mahdaviyat (ibid.), an organization "apparently based on the extremist Hojjatiyeh Society", which also had ties with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) (MEIB Feb. 2002).

A RFE/RL report states that

Founded in the 1950s as an anti-Bahai organization, it is believed that many members of the Hojjatiyeh Society entered government service after the Islamic revolution. Around 1983 there was debate that the society opposed the concept of Vilayat-i Faqih, and eventually its founder, Sheikh Mahmud Halabi, was forced to withdraw to Mashhad. The Hojattiyeh Society ceased its activities in 1983 and its members were absorbed into the Islamic Coalition Association (Jamiyat-i Motalifih-yi Islami), which is one of the main conservative pressure groups (26 Apr. 1999).

The Mahdaviyat was accused in 1999 of planning the assassination of "several government officials" (ibid.). The Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) announced on 25 November 1999 it had arrested 34 members of the Mahdaviyat (RFE/RL 29 Nov. 1999). The MOIS stated the group had connections with supporters abroad, was spreading religious discord by encouraging anti-Sunni activities and was plotting the assassination of President Kahtami, Expediency Council chairman Rafsanjani and former judiciary chief Mohammad Yazdi (ibid.). In May 2001, those arrested were declared guilty on the above-mentioned charges following a trial held behind closed doors (HRW 2002).

A 28 May 2001 RFE/RL report states that

After some 20 closed-door hearings, the Revolutionary Court sentenced about 30 members of the Mahdaviyat Group on charges of acting against national security and trying to assassinate state officials, IRNA reported on 13 May. Originally scheduled to be an open trial, the closed hearings that began on 9 December 2000 could have shown the links between extremist groups and figures in the government and the religious leadership.

No further information on the Hojjatiyeh could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Baha'is Studies Review [UK, city undisclosed]. 1997. Vol. 7. Ghanea-Hercock, Nazila. "A Review of Secondry Literature in English on Recent Persecutions of Baha'is in Iran." http://bahai-library.org/articles/hercock.persecution.html [Accessed 9 Sept. 2003]

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2002. World Report 2002. http://www.hrw.org/wr2k2/mena3.html [Accessed 9 Sept. 2003]

Middle East Intelligence Bulletin (MEIB) [New York, DC]. February 2002. Vol. 4, No. 2. A. William Samii. "Factionalism in Iran's Domestic Security Forces." http://www.meib.org/articles/0202_me2.htm [Accessed 9 Sept. 2003]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty [RFE/RL]. 28 May 2001. Vol. 4, No. 20. <Secret Mahdaviyat Convictions Suggest Cover-up." < [Accessed 11 Sept. 2003]

_____. 29 November 1999. Iran Report. Vol. 2, No. 47. "Mahdaviyat Group Another Scapegoat." http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/1999/11/47-291199.html [Accessed 9 Sept. 2003]

_____. 26 April 1999. Iran Report. Vol. 2, No. 17. "Public Anger Over Slow Pace of Prosecutions." http://www.uga.edu/bahai/News/042699-1.html [Accessed 10 Sept. 2003]

SAIS Review [Baltimore, Maryland]. 16 February 1996. Hooshang Amirahmadi. "Emerging Civil Society in Iran." (John Hopkins University Press) (Google cache). http://www.metrostate.edu/cgi-bin/troxy/proxy.cgi/URL-muse.jhu.edu/journals/sais_review/v016.2amirahmadi.html [Accessed 9 Sept. 2003]

Social Research [New York, NY]. Summer 2000. Vol. 67, No. 2. Firuz Kazemzadeh. "The Baha'is in Iran: Twenty Years of Repression." http://bahai-library.org/newspapers/062200-2.html [Accessed 9 Sept. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Dialog

IRB databases

Internet sites, including

Anmsety International

WNC

Search Engines

Google