Chronology: Date 1980

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1980, sorted by firsts, ascending

date	event	tags	firsts
1980 -10 Feb 198-	Message from the Universal House of Justice addressed to the Bahá'ís of Iran and Iranian believers resident in other countries. [Mess63-68p433-441] Note: The message was written in Farsi and the English translation was prepared by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom. In a letter dated 29 July 1980 in which it forwarded the English translation to all National Spiritual Assemblies, the Universal House of Justice wrote: "The message includes several quotations from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi hitherto untranslated into English. The English texts of these passages, as they appear in the attached translated message, have been checked and approved at the World Center, and may be regarded by the friends as authorized texts." The message dealt with such issues as: reasons for the current turmoil, the calamities ahead, the vision of the future, the responsibility to provide an example, the responsibility to serve God, the responsibility of moderation, the responsibility of resettling such that the Iranian population of any community does not exceed 50%, the responsibility of avoiding political involvement, and the strengths of the Iranian believers.	* Persecution, Iran; - Bahá'í World Centre; Iran
1980 3 Nov 198-	The Universal House of Justice announced that the zones of the Continental Boards of Counsellors will, from the Day of the Covenant of the year 137 (26 November 1980), be as follows: 1. Africa, comprising the areas of the four present zones of that continent. 2. The Americas, comprising the present zones of North, Central and South America. 3. Asia, comprising the present zones of Western, South Central and Southeastern Asia, together with the present zone of Northeastern Asia without the Hawaiian Islands and Micronesia. 4. Australasia, comprising the present zone of Australasia plus the Hawaiian Islands and Micronesia. 5. Europe. [Universal House of Justice Message 3 November, 1980]	- Bahá'í World Centre; Appointed arm; Counsellors
1980 Sep 198-	Building work began on the Samoan House of Worship. [BW18:104]	* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Apia, Samoa; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Apia, Samoa; Samoa
1980 20 Nov 198-	Abu'l-Qásim Faizí, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Haifa. (b.1906) [BW18:659; VV52] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] For his obituary see BW18:659–65. See Conqueror of Hearts: Excerpts from Letters, Talks, and Writings of Hand of the Cause of God Abu'l-Qásim Faizí by Abu'l-Qasim Faizi edited by Shirley Macias.	- Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Abu'l-Qasim Faizi; Biography; Haifa, Israel; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Third Contingent
1980 18 Jan 198-	The publication of the compilation on Divorce by the Universal House of Justice. [MUHJ63-86p404]	* Publications; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Compilations; Divorce; Family; Marriage
1980 3 Mar 198-	Publication by the Universal House of Justice of the compilation on The Importance of Prayer, Meditation and the Devotional Attitude. [MUHJ63-86p404]	* Publications; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Compilations; Meditation; Prayer
1980 26 Oct 198-	Publication by the Universal House of Justice of the compilation on Attendance at National Spiritual Assembly Meetings. [MUHJ63-86p404]	* Publications; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Compilations; Administration; National Spiritual Assemblies
1980 13 Aug 198-	In a message the Universal House of Justice announced the publication of translations into English of "The Long Healing Prayer" and "Qad-Ihtaraqa'l-Mukhisún", the prayer commonly known as the "Fire Tablet". These tablets have subsequently been published in prayer books. [Messages63-86p455] The Long Healing Prayer had been translated by Habib Taherzadeh and a committee commissioned by the Universal House of Justice. [Healing and Beyond p10 by John Kolstoe]	* Publications; * Translation; - Bahá'í World Centre; Healing prayer, Long; Lawh-i-Qad-Ihtaraqal-Mukhlisun (Fire Tablet); Prayer
1980 26 Nov 198-	The date, coincident with the Day of the Covenant, determined by the Universal House of Justice to be when the members of the Continental Board of Counsellors will start their five years term of service. [Message from the Universal House of Justice 29 June, 1979, BW19:27]	- Bahá'í World Centre; Counsellors
1980 24 Sep 198-	Universal House of Justice announced that additional land had been acquired in the south-western area of the Haram-i-Aqdas in exchange for some land near Nazareth. The acquisition of this new land permitted the completion of the fourth quadrant. In addition, it was announced that nearly 50,000 square meters of agricultural land adjacent to and north of the Mazra'ih property had been acquired as a protection for the Mansion because this area was being developed rapidly. [BW18:99; DH122, Message from the Universal House of Justice 24 September, 1980]	- Bahá'í World Centre; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; Akka, Israel; Bahji, Israel; Haifa, Israel; Haram-i-Aqdas; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Mazraih); Purchases and exchanges
1980 Oct 198-	A completely new electrical system was installed in the Shrine of the Báb. [Bahái Chronicles]	- Bahá'í World Centre; Báb, Shrine of (Haifa)
1980 (In the year) 198-	The film Jubilee, commissioned by the Universal House of Justice and made by Elizabeth Martin, documented the dedication of the cornerstone for the House of Worship in Samoa. She also made a second version of this film entitled Blessed Is the Spot which focused more directly on the dedication ceremonies. The film The Bahá'ís was an introductory film on the development activities of the Bahá'í communities around the world was edited by Elizabeth Martin. [HNWE45]	* Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Documentaries; Canada; Elizabeth Martin; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Apia, Samoa; Toronto, ON
1980 14 - 30 Jul 198-	Representatives of the Bahá'í International Community participated in the Second World Conference of Women in Copenhagen, Denmark and its preparatory conferences in Paris, New Delhi, Macuto (Venezuela) and Lusaka (Zambia). [Wikipedia; BIC History Second World Conference on Women] The BIC presented two statements, Equality, development and peace; and Universal Values for the Advancement of Women. Report of the World Conference of the UN Decade for Women; Equality, Develpment and Peace. (pdf) See UN Women.	- BIC statements; Bahá'í International Community; Copenhagen, Denmark; Denmark; United Nations
1980 (In the year) 198-	The Anís Zunúzí Baháʼí School, located at Lilavoix, Haiti, opened its doors to students in 1980. The inauguration ceremony took place on the 20th of October 1982 when Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Khánum planted an orange tree as part of the opening ceremonies. [BN No 625 April 1983 p5-7; BW17:158; Wikipedia] The cost of the construction of the school was about $300,000 which was donated by the Hassan Ali-Kamran family in Belgium. [LB304] The school is partnered with the Mona Foundation. Bahaipedia.	- Bahá'í inspired schools; Anis Zunuzi School, Haiti; Haiti; Lilavois, Haiti
1980 10 Jun 198-	The martyrdom of Yúsuf Subhání in Ivín Prison in Tehran. For an account of his execution and the events leading up to it see The Account of the Martyrdom of Mr. Yusuf Subhání, 10 June 1980 written by his brother-in-law, Jálál Khánimání. [World Order, Series2, Volume_17 Issue 1 p12-18]	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Ivin Prison; Tehran, Iran; Yusuf Subhani
1980 Dec 198-	Professor Manouchehr Hakim, who, at one time was the head of the Misaghieh Hospital, was shot and killed by "unknown elements" while he was in his office. The murderers were never identified, and three days later, a revolutionary court confiscated Professor Hakim's assets. [Iran Wire]	* Persecution, Iran; Manouchehr Hakim; Misaghieh Hospital, Tehran; Tehran, Iran
1980 13 Jul 198-	The execution by firing squad of Dr. Faramarz Samandari as well as another Bahá'í by the name of Yadollah Astani, a reputable Tabriz merchant. Dr Samandari had been arrested on April 22nd along with a number of other Bahá'ís in Tabriz who had gathered to discuss what could be done about the Bahá'ís who had been expelled from government employment. Raised in Babol he had studied medicine in Tehran, completed his military service then left for England to study English and then Canada. After completing his studies in which he trained as an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist), he returned to Iran. His Canadian fiancee, Anita, followed and they were married in 1971. She and their three children, all under the age of seven, left Iran after the Revolution on the advice of the Canadian Embassy. He was 48 years old at the time of his execution and was considered one of the top microscopic ear surgeons in the world. He was an innovator who devised a new method of ear surgery for the treatment of deafness. The method, now used in a modernized form around the world, allows a surgeon to implant a small hearing aid behind the ear of a hearing impaired person in a way that cannot been seen. [Iran Wire]	* Persecution, Iran; Babul (Barfurush), Iran; Biography; Dr. Faramarz Samandari; Iran; Iran; Tabríz, Iran; Yadollah Astani
1980 (In the year) 198-	The opening of the Native American Bahá'í Institute (NABI) on Navajo land in Arizona. The programs at NABi integrate Native American spirituality with that of the Bahá'i faith. It was designated an agency of the National Spiritual Assembly thereby becoming one of the five permanent school and institutes. Over the years it has been focused upon various goals. Since 1998, it has been designated a Regional Training Institute by the National Spiritual Assembly, and has been immersed in advancing the goals of the Training Institute process among Native Americans. [IndigenousBahais.com] NABI campus is made up of 40 acres of Piñon/Juniper forest surrounded by the Navajo Nation. It's natural beauty has been preserved creating a serene setting in which to reflect and study both individually and collectively. [facebook]	Arizona, USA; Bahá'í Institutes; Houck, Arizona; Native American Bahá'í Institute
1980 21 Aug 198-	The members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran were arrested along with two colleagues. They disappeared without trace and were presumed dead. In late December the bodies of five of the members of the National Assembly were discovered. [BW18p257; BW19:43, 235; Message from the Universal House of Justice 28 December 1981] Those that went missing were: Abdolhossein Taslimi, Houshang Mohammadi, Ebrahim Rahmani, Hassan Naji, Manouher Ghaemmaghami, Ataollah Mogharabi, Yousef Ghadimi, Behieh Naderi, Dr. Kambiz Sadeghzadeh Milani, Yousef Abbasian and Heshmatollah Rouhani. See photo. See Iran Press Watch # 20394.	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; National Spiritual Assembly, Iran
1980 (In the year) 198-	The publication of Stories from the Delight of Hearts - The Memoirs of Hají Mírzá Haydar-Alí as translated by A Q Faizi and published by Kalimat in 1980.	* Publications; * Translation; Abu'l-Qasim Faizi; Hájí Mírzá Haydar-`Alí (Angel of Carmel)
1980 27 Jul 198-	The death of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in Cairo. (b.26 October, 1919 in Tehran). Shah of Iran from 16 September, 1941 to 11 February. He came to power after an Anglo-Soviet invasion forced the abdication of his father, Reza Shah. He had been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in April 1974 by the French haematologist Professor Jean Bernard, [David Owen] He fled Iran on 17 January and flew to Aswan, Egypt where he was welcomed by President Anwar El-Sadat. Later he lived in Marrakech, Morocco as a guest of King Hassan II. And then Paradise Island in the Bahamas, then Cuernavaca, Mexico, near Mexico City where his medical condition deteriorated. On the 22nd of October he flew New York for treatment in the Cornell Medical Center after President Carter relented. He was later taken to the Kelly Air Force Base in Texas and from there to the Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base. He left the US on the 15th of December, 1979 and lived for a short time in Isla Contadora in Panama where he was taken in under American pressure. The new Iranian government made an attempt to extradite him. In March, 1980 he returned to Egypt having been offered permanent asylum by President Anwar El-Sadat The official cause of death was complications of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma) He was buried in the Al Rifa'i Mosque in Cairo, [Wiki]	Cairo, Egypt; Egypt; Reza Shah Pahlavi
1980 (In the year) 198-	The persecution of the Bahá'ís of Iran continued throughout the year. [BW18:92] Twenty–four Bahá'ís were executed or otherwise killed. [BW18:229–30] BW18:291–2 shows a slightly different, incorrect list. For pictures of the martyrs see BW18:293–305 and BW19:236–46. For accounts of some of the martyrdoms see BW18:275–81. Twelve Bahá'ís disappeared and were presumed dead. [BW19:235] For a list of resolutions adopted by the United Nations, regional bodies, national and provincial governments, and other actions taken, see BW18:92–6. For a list of the actions taken by the Bahá'í International Community, Bahá'í institutions and others see BW18:339–41, 415–17.	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Bahá'í International Community; Human rights; Iran; United Nations
1980 Feb 198-	The persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran entered a new, more dangerous phase. [BW18:255] Prominent Bahá'ís were abducted. [BW18:256] The homes of members of the National Spiritual Assembly were raided. [BW18:256]	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Arrests; Iran; National Spiritual Assembly
1980 12 Feb 198-	Hasan M. Balyuzi, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in London. (b. 7 September, 1908, Shiraz, Iran). He was buried at the New Southgate Cemetery London. [BW18:635; VV52, Mess63-86p442] For his obituary see BW18:635–51 and SBBR5:XI–XX. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] See Bahá'í Chronicles for a biography. For a brief biography see Balyuzi, Hasan M. by Richard Francis and A Bio-bibliographic Sketch by Moojan Momen found in SBBR Vol 5 page XI-XIX. See a brief biography in The Bahá'í Community of the British Isles 1844-1963 p462-464 and for the story of his learning of the Faith, p449-451 For some essays and excerpts from Hasan Balyuzi's work see Bahá'í Library. Find a grave.	- Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Bahá'í studies; Biography; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Hasan Balyuzi; London, England; United Kingdom
1980 25 Feb 198-	Robert Hayden, much-honoured American poet, passed away in Ann Arbor, Michigan. [BW18:717] For his obituary see BW18:715–17. See also Hatcher, From The Auroral Darkness: The Life and Poetry of Robert Hayden. See Bahá'í World 1994-95 pg249 for an article by Anne Boyles entitled "The Language of the Heart: Arts in the Bahá'í World Community" for mention of Robert Hayden. See The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature entry about Robert Hayden. In 1976, Mr. Hayden was named Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a post which was later renamed Poet Laureate of the United States. He was the first African-American to hold the position. He taught at Fisk University in Nashville for 23 years and then at the University of Michigan from 1969 until his death in 1980 at age 66. In 2012 the US Postal Service issued a series of stamps commemorating poets which included Mr Hayden. [BWNS915]	- Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; - Poetry; Ann Arbor, MI; Biography; Michigan, USA; Poet Laureate; Robert Hayden; Stamps (philately)
1980 Apr 198-	Eight Bahá'ís were arrested in Tabríz; five were released after signing an agreement not to take part in Bahá'í administrative activities. [BW18:256] Two of the others, members of the local assembly, were put on trial and executed on 14 July 1982. [BW18:256]	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Tabríz, Iran
1980 2 May 198-	The Bahá'ís of India commemorated the centenary of the founding of the Bahá'í Faith in their country with a reception attended by about 400 guests, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs. [BW18:246–7] See here for the story of Jamal Effendi.	Centenaries; India; Prominent visitors
1980 14 Jul 198-	Two of the Bahá'ís arrested in Tabríz in April were executed. [BW18:256]	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Tabríz, Iran
1980 29 Jul 198-	Adelbert Mühlschlegel, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away at his pioneer post in Athens, Greece. (b.16 June 1897) [BW18:613; VV52] For his obituary see BW18:611–13. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii] Adelbert Milhlschlegel, M.D. (1897-1980) received a Tablet from ' Abdu'I-Bahá and became a close collaborator of Shoghi Effendi who elevated him to the rank of Hand of the Cause. In November 1957 he was asked by Ruhiyyih Khanum to wash and anoint the Guardian's body for burial. Speaking a dozen languages, he taught the Bahá'í Faith in both eastern and western Europe, India, Africa, and South America. Adelbert MiihlschJegel worked on many important translations, wrote a World History, and left a book of poetry. He passed away in Athens and is buried at the foot of the Acropolis. [The German Baha'i Community under National Socialism p30]	- Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Adelbert Muhlschlegel; Athens, Greece; Biography; Greece; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths
1980 Sep 198-	The European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities adopted resolutions on the plight of the Bahá'ís in Iran. [BW19:38]	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Other; Bahá'í International Community; European Union (EU); Human rights; Iran; United Nations
1980 2 May 198-	The first Bahá'í International Conference on Health and Healing was held in Ottawa, Canada, under the sponsorship of the Association for Bahá'í Studies. [BW 18:201]	- Conferences, International; - First conferences; Bahá'í Studies, Associations for; Canada; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Health; Ottawa, ON	first Bahá’í International Conference on Health and Healing
1980 Mar 198-	The first Bahá'í Summer School of the Cameroon Republic was held in Victoria. [BW18:166]	Cameroon; First summer and winter schools; Limbé, Camaroon; Summer schools	first Bahá’í Summer School of the Cameroon Republic
1980 (In the year) 198-	Yee Wah Sing, the first Fiji-born person to become a Bahá'í in Fiji, enrolled. [BN596:14]	- First Bahá'ís by country or area; Fiji	first indigenous Bahá’í in Fiji
1980 (In the year) 198-	The first local spiritual assemblies in Guinea were formed.	Guinea; Local Spiritual Assembly	first Local Spiritual Assembly in Guinea
1980 Ridván 198-	The National Spiritual Assembly of Transkei was formed with its seat in Umtata. [BW18:107, 163] It was a Bantustan or nominally independent state established within South Africa. The South African government abolished Bantustans in 1994 and the Assembly of Transkei was disbanded in 1995 with the community falling under the administration of the National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa. [National Spiritual Assemblies: Lists and years of formation by Graham Hassall]	Mthatha, South Africa; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Transkei, South Africa	first NSA Transkei
1980 17 Oct 198-	Leonora Stirling Holsapple Armstrong, (b.June 23, 1895, Hudson, New York), the 'spiritual mother of South America' and the first Latin American pioneer, passed away in the city of Salvador in Bahia, Brazil. She had served on the Continental Board of Counsellors from her appointment in 1973. [Mess63-86p248; BW18:738; VV32] For her obituary see BW18:733–738. See Armstrong, Counsellor Leonora: A Loving Portrait by Kristine Leonard Asuncion. Brief biographical sketch of Counsellor Armstrong, the "Spiritual Mother of South America" . Bahá'í Blog. Wikipedia. Bahaipedia. See FMH40-41 for the story of how she was inspired to go pioneering as told to Doris and Willard McKay. (She had been a classmate of Willard's sister Marguerite at Cornell University.)	- In Memoriam; Bahia, Brazil; Biography; Brazil; Leonora Holsapple Armstrong; Names and titles	first pioneer Latin American
1980 Oct (Mid) 198-	The First Latin American Bahá'í Women's Conference was held in Brasilia at the Convention Centre. Leonera Armstrong, on her deathbed in Salvador, Bahia at the time, addressed the conference via a message recorded on cassette tape. Woman, light of the future generation - when we, the women of the world, reflect on the true meaning of this theme that was chosen and as its full meaning penetrates more and more deeply into the conscience of each woman, we must understand that affectionate, that supreme privilege is ours and that inescapable duty is ours, and so we must rise as never before, to fulfill our first obligation. Women know that they are the first educators of humanity ... [Biographical Profile]	- Conferences; Bahia, Brazil; Brasilia, Brazil; Brazil; Conferences, Women; Latin America; Leonora Holsapple Armstrong	The First Latin American Bahá'í Women's Conference was held in Brasilia.


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