Baha’is in Turkey

The population of Turkey is about 84 million people, of which non-Muslims make up only about 0.2%. According to official reports, fewer than 10,000 Baha’is live in Turkey. The Ottoman Empire, of which Turkey was a part, played an important role in Baha’i history. Mullah Ali Bastami and also Tahereh Qorrat Alein two of the first followers of Bab have a history of residing there and causing some tensions Turkey. After that, Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l-Bahá also lived in that country and pretended to be Muslims and following dissimulation( taqiyyah). During that time, the changes and social reforms of the Ottoman Empire took place, and there are evidences of their influence on Baha’i teachings and thoughts. In this article, the history of the presence of Baha’i leaders and Baha’is in the Ottoman Empire and their behaviors and deeds in that land is briefly discussed. At the end, a report on the current situation of Baha’is and the causes of Baha’i stagnation in Turkey is presented.