Authoritarians love the idea of "unity"

No one can deny that when everyone agrees, this is unity, and when there are non-conformists, there is potential for disunity. Authoritarians hate non-conformists and therefore they love the idea of unity.

This is one of the reasons why Baha'i authorities have made sort of an idol out of unity. If the masses worship the Unity Idol, then any time someone holds an unconventional opinion, authoritarians will easily be able to convince the masses that this person is immoral, and therefore deserves to be persecuted, since holding a unconventional opinion is contrary to unity.

Should punitive action be taken against non-conformists so that they are forced to conform, or should they be left alone? Baha'u'llah says that unity should not be taken to an extreme:

"Such exhortations to union and concord as are inscribed in the Books of the Prophets by the Pen of the Most High bear reference unto specific matters; not a union that would lead to disunity or a concord which would create discord. This is the station where measures are set unto everything, a station where every deserving soul shall be given his due."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Lawḥ-i-Maqṣúd)

But such reasonable and moderate position is inconvenient for the Baha'i authorities, and so they instead prefer to ignore this and push the Unity Idol, so that they can justify punitive action against non-conformists.