The Social Basis of the Bābī Upheavals in Iran (1848–53): A Preliminary Analysis

Abstract

In the middle of the nineteenth century, Iran was shaken by a series of serious upheavals caused by the Bābī movement. Although of short duration, these upheavals engulfed the entire country and had far-reaching effects in that they formed the first of a chain of events that led on the one hand, to the constitional movement in Iran, and on the other, to the establishment of the now world-wide Bahā'ī Faith.

Challenging apostasy: Responses to Moojan Momen's ‘Marginality and Apostasy in the Baha’i Community’

“…I am quite happy for readers of Religion to look at my article on this subject (Momen, 1983; see also Smith and Momen, 1986) and judge Amanat's comments for themselves. It is strange however that MacEoin has raised this as part of his disparagements of me, given that he has frequently cited this article in his own works (including his two books on Babism, two of his papers cited in my article, and elsewhere) without ever voicing any criticism of it.…”

Religious Minorities in the Middle East

“…This goes back to the time of the Babi movement, which was not a local movement but spread in the 1840s like a wild-fijire over most of Iran. Although there were cities, such as Mashad, Yazd, and Zanjan, which were known as particular Babi strongholds, the Babis seemed in general to be of a very mixed background (Momen 1983). Geographically, they came from all parts of Iran, and they represented most of the Iranian society with respect to occupation (ibid.).…”