e Baha'i community in Turkey
out of the obscurity of oppressive neglect into the broad daylight of
official and public attention.

Recently, however, from the reports that have been received from the
elected representatives of the believers in different parts of Turkey, it
appears that the investigations conducted by the Police authorities in the
capital and provinces of that land have proved but a preliminary to a more
official and detailed inquiry into the Baha'i position with respect to the
laws recently promulgated by the Republican government. For no sooner were
the followers of Baha'u'llah released from detention at the Police
headquarters and given the assurance that their Faith was in no way
associated with any political design or motive, than an official
communication was delivered to their representatives summoning them to
appear before the State's criminal Tribunal on the charge of infraction of
the law of the Republic requiring the registration and authorization of
all public gatherings and associations within the jurisdiction of the
State. To this summons our brethren yielded immediate and implicit
obedience. They indeed welcomed this further opportunity to assert not
only the innocence of their Faith but to vindicate as well the sublimity
of the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Realizing that with this fresh
development their case has assumed a solemn and juridical character, the
undaunted champions of the Cause resolved to seek the assistance of an
expert and sympathetic advocate, who would reinforce from a purely legal
standpoint the spiritual argument which they reserved for themselves to
propound. For a period ranging from a week to eighteen days the attention
of the officers of the Court, of the elected representatives of the
believers, of their officially appointed advocates, and of the visiting
public was focused upon the deliberations of a Court that closely
scrutinized not only the conduct and motives of the Baha'i followers but
the laws and principles, the past history and the present position of the
Faith itself.

Trial of Turkish Believers

Fortified by the reflection that never before in Baha'i history have the
followers of Baha'u'llah been called upon by the officials of a State,
responsible for the administration of Justice, to unfold the history and
principles of their Faith, our brethren in Turkey decided to assert in
their entirety those distinguishing laws and ordinances of the Baha'i