The Turkish Government exacted a promise from Baha’u’llah that no teaching should be given to the dwellers in that country.

“The Turkish Government, entirely misunderstanding the matter, gave ear to the false statements of prejudiced and bigoted religionists, and fearing any innovation, exacted a promise from Baha’u’llah that no teaching should be given to the dwellers in that country, where the Holy Ones were held as prisoners and exiles. ‘Abdu’l-Baha also continued to respect this promise, so that for the people of that country the Life of the Holy Ones, as lived amongst them, was the Teaching for them. Some souls, by intuition, divined the secret of the stupendous event which was taking place, but for the most part they did not become aware.”

(Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway, page 136)