March 27. On this date in 2003, the UHJ wrote regarding "the appropriateness of Bahá’ís participating in demonstrations for peace" against the 2003 invasion of Iraq that "such occasions are motivated by highly political and controversial sentiments at a time of turmoil and confusion in the world...current demonstrations are not intended to promote peace in principle but are focused on a specific dispute among governments."

 

March 27. On this date in 2003, the UHJ wrote regarding "the appropriateness of Bahá’ís participating in demonstrations for peace" against the 2003 invasion of Iraq that "such occasions are motivated by highly political and controversial sentiments at a time of turmoil and confusion in the world...current demonstrations are not intended to promote peace in principle but are focused on a specific dispute among governments."

27 March 2003

Transmitted electronically

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

Your email message of 4 March 2003 has been received at the Bahá’í World Centre, and we can reply as follows. You state that there are large-scale demonstrations arising in your community and in communities around the world, and you inquire about the appropriateness of Bahá’ís participating in demonstrations for peace. It is important to keep in mind that while these activitiesare generally carried out in the name of peace, such occasions are motivated by highly political and controversial sentiments at a time of turmoil and confusion in the world. Not only would it be contrary to the Bahá’í principle of non-involvement in politics for individual believers, or Bahá’í institutions, to become associated with such activities, it could also be harmful to the interests of the Faith internationally. The point to bear in mind here is that current demonstrations are not intended to promote peace in principle but are focused on a specific dispute among governments. As you can no doubt understand, Bahá’í participation in public demonstrations involving controversial issues would undermine the Faith's essential purpose of promoting unity in all aspects of human affairs, and your desire to remain focused on the essential work of the Faith is deeply appreciated.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

cc: National Assembly of the United States (by email)

In the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the false information of Iraq's purported possession of weapons of mass destruction was leaked to the media by David Kelly, a Bahá’í authority on biological warfare, employed by the British Ministry of Defence, and formerly a weapons inspector with the United Nations Special Commission in Iraq. 

David Kelly was found dead from an apparent suicide on July 17, 2003, two days after appearing before a before a parliamentary Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

On August 11, 2003, The Independent carried an article about David Kelly, noting "In October 2002, Dr Kelly gave a slide show and lecture about his experiences as a weapons inspector in Iraq to a small almost private gathering of the Baha'i faith, which aims to unite the teachings of all the prophets. Dr Kelly had converted to the religion three years earlier, while in New York on attachment to the UN. When he returned to England he became treasurer of the small but influential Baha'i branch in Abingdon near his home. Roger Kingdon, a member, recalls: 'He had no doubt that [the Iraqis] had biological and chemical weapons. It was clear that David Kelly was largely happy with the material in the dossier.'"