Names of some covenant-breakers (List will be updated on a regular basis)

Shaykh Muhammad-i-Yazdi & Aqa Muhammad-'Aliy-i-Tabrizi (expelled by Baha'u'llah)

Pauline Smith (New Zealand) for association with known Covenant-breakers, who are some of the relatives of Shoghi Effendi, and in particular, Ms Parvine Afnan Shahid.

https://fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/shun1.htm

Parvine Shahid
Nayyir Afnan

"It has been determined that Parvine Shahid, who is the granddaughter of the notorious Covenant-breaker Nayyir Afnan, is infected with the spirit of Covenant-breaking and should be treated as a Covenant-breaker."

(From a letter dated 12 December 1996 from the Department of the Secretariat, Universal House of Justice, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand.)

https://fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/shun1.htm

Mirza Muhammad-'Ali, Mirza Badi'u'llah, Shu'a'u'llah and Musa
Dr Amin Fareed, Falah, Hasan-i-Niku, Faydu'llah Subhi & Abdu'l-Husayn Avarih

https://bahai-library.com/taherzadeh_covenant_bahaullah&chapter=30

Jamal-i-Burujirdi

https://bahai-library.com/cole_biography_jamal_burujirdi

Ahmad Sohrab
Khyrellah
Fareed
Dyer
Mrs. White
Mrs. Chanler

https://bahai.works/Baha%27i_News/Issue_46/Text

Hussein Afnan, Ahmad Sohrab, Avarih, Badiullah, Dyer, Faeg, Dr Amin Fareed, Fernald, Herrigel, Majdiddin, Muhammad ‘Ali, Watson, Mrs. White, Mirza Yahya

-The Priceless Pearl by Ruhiyyih Khanum

Dr. Wilhelm Herrigel, a Baha’i in Stuttgart, Germany, who acted as translator during the Master’s visit to Stuttgart in 1913, but who, years later in 1930, became a Covenant-breaker because he could not accept the administrative order as directed by the Master in His Will and Testament.

-Become as True Brethren (by John David Bosch)

Fá'iq (Faeg). After the death of Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl Gulpaygání (q.v), some of his pupils set up in Cairo, with the approval of `Abdu'l-Bahá, a society which they named "al-Jam`íyah al-`Ilmiyyah al-Adabiyyah" (The Scientific and Literary Society). After some years, this society under the leadership of a Bahá'í of Armenian background, Fá'iq, came into conflict with the Bahá'í administrative institutions in Egypt, and Fá'iq was expelled from the Bahá'í community. A few of the Egyptian Bahá'ís followed him and he also managed to convert some others, but many of these returned to the Bahá'í community eventually.

(GPB 327, RM 2:210-213).

The second wife of Bahá'u'lláh, whom He married in Tihran in 1849, was Fatimih Khanum, usually referred to as Mahd-i-'Ulya. She was a cousin of Bahá'u'lláh and gave birth to six children, of whom four survived. They were one daughter, Samadiyyih, and three sons, Muhammad-'Ali, Diya'u'llah and Badi'u'llah. These four, along with their mother, violated the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh. Mahd-i-'Ulya died in 1904.

The third wife, Gawhar Khanum, was not known by any other title. The dates of her birth, marriage and death are not known. Her marriage took place some time in Baghdad before the declaration of Bahá'u'lláh's mission. While Navvab and Mahd-i-'Ulya travelled with Him in all His exiles, Gawhar Khanum remained in Baghdad with her brother, Mirza Mihdiy-i-Kashani. For some years she was among the Bahá'í refugees in Mosul[34] and later went to 'Akka at Bahá'u'lláh's instruction. She gave birth to one daughter, Furughiyyih; mother and daughter both became Covenant-breakers after the passing of Bahá'u'lláh.

(The Child of the Covenant: A Study Guide to the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha by Adib Taherzadeh)

https://bahai-library.com/taherzadeh_child_covenant&chapter=all

"Mirza Muhammad-Ali... succeeded in ranging on his side almost the entire family of Baha’u’llah, as well as a considerable number of those who had formed his immediate entourage. Baha’u’llah’s two surviving wives, His two sons, the vacillating Mirza Diya’u’llah and the treacherous Badi’u’llah with their sister and half-sister and their husbands..."

(God Passes By, pps. 246-8)

In January he [Shoghi Effendi] wrote to Hussein Afnan: ‘I presume you have gathered from past experience that I stand for absolute sincerity, scrupulous justice in all matters pertaining to the Cause, and an uncompromising attitude with regard to the enemies of the Movement, the Nakezeens [Covenant-breakers] whose vile and unceasing efforts God alone shall frustrate.’ The man to whom this was written, a grandson of Baha’u’llah and a nephew of Abdu’l-Baha, became himself a notorious Covenant-breaker not long afterwards.’

(The Priceless Pearl, pp. 69-70)

And in a cable addressed to all National Spiritual Assemblies by Shoghi Effendi, dated April 3, 1952, announcing the death of Saiyid Husayn’s younger brother, Nayer Afnan, who had unremittingly opposed the Guardian during his lifetime ( he is referred to as the ‘pivot of machinations’), Shoghi Effendi castigated his whole family, and accuses Saiyid Husain of having deliberately misrepresented facts during the trying of the case of the House of Baha’u’llah in Baghdad (though he does not go into further detail)

(Gertrude Bell and the Babi and Baha'i faith, by Jamileh Yazdi, 2017)

Similarly, with regard to Baha'i theology, Dyar maintained that it was unnecessary to believe in the Manifestations of God, their divinity, or indeed any "cosmic conception." Increasingly using 'Reality' [Journal] as a vehicle for the promotion of his own ideas, Dyar was still ready to give space to alternative viewpoints related to the Baha’i movement, no matter how idiosyncratic. Thus, the lone American Azali, August J. Stenstrand was able to find a platform for his views, and Edward J. Irvine was able to promote “Red Bahaism” or “Irvinism.” Seemingly a rather pathetic figure who gained no adherents for his “reformed” religion, Irvine was soundly rejected by both the Baha’is and the communists whose tenets he sought to combine. Space was also given to those whom mainstream Baha’is regarded as violators of the Covenant such as Ameen Fareed, Ibrahim Kheiralla, and the promoters of the Kheirallaite ‘Unitarian Behai’s Movement.’ Few mainstream Baha’is continued contributing to Reality after its evident heterodoxy became established.

From Iran East and West/Reality Magazine: Editorship and Ownership of an American Bahá’í Periodical

To protect the Faith, the beloved Guardian had instructed the Baha’is of Iran not to go to America even for study or as tourists. The majority of Baha'is obeyed this instruction, but unfortunately a few disobeyed and were expelled from the Faith by the beloved Guardian. One complicated case was that of Husayn Ghani, His son Ruhi, was a registered Baha’i, but despite repeated admonitions of the National Spiritual Assembly, he made several visits to America and finally was expelled from the Faith. His Baha’i relatives, including his mother, cut off all communication with him. 

(Hand of the Cause of God Furutan by Iran Furutan Muhajir)

https://www.bahaibookstore.com/Hand-of-the-Cause-of-God-Furutan-P8867.aspx

The New History Society, a Baha’i Covenant-breaking group in New York City, managed to contact many of the Latin American Baha’i communities, causing some Baha’is to drop out of the Faith.

A German Canadian Baha’i, Gerrard Slutter, became active in a Nazi group about 1947, was expelled from the Baha’i Faith, and began to write against it.

(The World of the Bahá'í Faith by Robert H. Stockman)

https://www.routledge.com/The-World-of-the-Bahai-Faith/Stockman/p/book/9781138367722

The second parcel belonged to the wife of Sydney Sprague, who was also the sister of Ameen Farid, ‘Abdul-Baha’s secretary during His travels in the West who defied the Master in 1914 and had become a Covenant-breaker. When Sydney’s wife supported Farid, Sydney had initially remained loyal to her and was expelled from the Faith. Ultimately, he left her and came back to the Faith. His wife, however, remained in opposition to the Faith and refused to sell the land. The issue was finally resolved when the State of Israel took possession of the land as it did with the holdings of many Arabs and some others who fled the country during the War of Independence. Israel then sold the land to the Baha’is.

(Earl Redman, Shoghi Effendi - Through the Pilgrim's Eye Vol. 2)

https://www.grbooks.com/products/shoghi-effendi-vol-2-through-pilgrims-eye_redman?variant=24525720191076

The following cablegram, dated July 20, from the Hands of the Faith residing in the Holy Land to the National Spiritual Assembly of Ecuador is published here for the information and protection of all Bahá’ís who have had or may in the future have any contact with these two persons:

“Owing (to) continuation (of their) activities (in) undermining (the) institutions (of the) Cause (of) God Sotomayor (arid) Gonzalez (have been) expel led (from the) Faith (and) all association (with them is) forbidden.

—HANDSFAITH

Mr. Guillermo Sotomayor lives in Quito, Ecuador, and Mr. Eduardo Gonzalez in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

https://bahai.works/Baha%27i_News/Issue_366/Text#Guillermo_Sotomayor_and_Eduardo_Gonzalez_Expelled_from_Faith

By 10 October, after meeting with the defectors, all seven understood their error and renounced Remey, writing a letter to the National Assembly declaring their complete loyalty to the Faith. Guillon, however, remained defiant and was expelled as a Covenant-breaker, along with his daughter and son-in-law, and four others.”

(Earl Redman, Shoghi Effendi - Through the Pilgrim's Eye Vol. 2)

https://www.grbooks.com/products/shoghi-effendi-vol-2-through-pilgrims-eye_redman?variant=24525720191076

Regarding Mr. Perdu: it was with the approval of the Guardian that his name was removed from the voting list. It is very bad for the Cause to have a member of the Community, actively, in the public eye, teaching the Faith, and at the same time showing dishonest characteristics. We cannot possibly say that because a person also has many virtues, faults as grave as lying and dishonourable conduct regarding money, can be overlooked!

(Messages to the Antipodes: Communications from Shoghi Effendi to the Baha'i Communities of Australasia. Shoghi Effendi)

Joseph Perdu (Abdullah Fazel, Yusuf-i-Gomgashteh) Joseph Perdu, a Persian Baha’i of Zoroastrian background who had been declared a Covenant-breaker while in France (for interwiewing Covenant-breakers in New York), and who had changed his name from Abdullah Fazel to Joseph Perdu, (perdu meaning lost) arrived in South Africa with his wife early in 1955 and settled in Durban.

(Heroes and Heroines of the Ten-Year Crusade in Southern Africa by Lowell Johnson, Edith Johnson)

In 2009 Jeffery Goldberg and Janice Franco were declared Covenant Breakers after leaving the mainstream Baha’i community and joining the Orthodox Baha’i Faith.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17555083/bahai-court-case-robert-stockman/

He was in Ishqabad that the news of Covenant breaking of Jamal-i-Burujerdy in Tihran and of the Khalil-i-Khalil in Azerbaijan became manifest, which prompt him to travel to Iran and help the friends to remain steadfast in the Covenant...

https://bahai-library.com/pdf/i/izadinia_ishqabad_city_love.pdf

Leland Jensen, a former Baha’i who broke the Covenant and then created his own following...

https://books.google.com/books/about/Bibliography_of_English_language_Works_o.html?id=UoNFzwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

There were other teachers of the Faith in Persia... among them was Siyyid Mihdiy-i-Dahaji entitled by Bahá'u'lláh 'Ismu'llahu'l-Mihdi' (the Name of God Mihdi). He… was an eloquent teacher of the Cause and was highly esteemed by the believers. Jalil-i-Khu'i was another well-known believer, for whom Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Tablet of Ishraqat. These men and several others who were engaged in the service of the Cause during Bahá'u'lláh's ministry... were tested through the institution of the Covenant. When they failed to comply with the provisions of the Kitab-i-'Ahd and broke the Covenant, they were expelled from the community.

(Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant)

In 1948 a fierce political upheaval erupted in the Holy Land. The State of Israel was founded, bringing an end to the British Mandate. War broke out between Arabs and Jews and a great many Arabs fled the country. During this period Shoghi Effendi remained in Haifa and, in the face of great dangers and severe difficulties, carried on his work as usual, including the building of the superstructure of the Shrine of the Bab. But the rest of the family, who were Covenant-breakers, allied themselves with the Arab community and fled the land. Among them were the family of Mirza Jalal Shahid, which included Ruha Khanum, the daughter of 'Abdu'l-Bahá; Tuba Khanum, another daughter of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and her son Ruhi, his wife Zahra and his brother; three cousins of Dr Farid; and Nayyir Afnan, his wife Ruhangiz (sister of Shoghi Effendi) and their children. Others who fled to Lebanon were Badi'u'llah (next in command to the Arch-breaker of the Covenant) and his relatives, together with those Bahá'ís who were disloyal to Shoghi Effendi. As time went on these people, who were already cut off from the Holy Family by virtue of their association with the enemies of the Faith, integrated themselves into Islamic society.

(Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant)

Shoghi Effendi was dealt a great blow when Ruhangiz, his eldest sister, married the second son of Siyyid 'Ali, Nayyir Afnan, who proved to be the greatest enemy of Shoghi Effendi throughout his ministry. This marriage created an unprecedented convulsion in the family and was followed by two similar marriages, one between the Covenant-breaker Hasan, another son of Siyyid 'Ali, and Mehrangiz, the younger sister of Shoghi Effendi, and the other between another son, Faydi, and Thurayya, Shoghi Effendi's cousin.

(Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant)

NOW REQUIRES EXPULSION FAITH OF REMEY’S HENCHMEN JOHN CARRE, BERNARD FILLON, MONEER DARAKHSHAN, JOEL MARANGELLA, JACQUES SOGHOMONIAN, DONALD HARVEY, JOHN BYERS IN FRANCE AND MARY WILKINS UNITED STATES HENCEFORTH ANYONE ASSOCIATING THESE PEOPLE OR SUPPORTING REMEY CLAIM LIKEWISE CONSIDERED COVENANT BREAKER.

(Ministry of the Custodians, p. 223)

https://bahai-library.com/uhj_ministry_custodians&chapter=4

Mirza Asadu’llah, together with his son Aminu’llah, later known as Dr Farid...

Áqá Ḥusayn committed suicide. Mírzá Ḥabíb of the singing voice...

(Summon Up Remembrance by Marzieh Gail, Oxford: George Ronald, 1987)

https://bahai-library.com/pdf/g/gail_summon_up_remembrance.pdf

Estanislao Alvarez 

Several missions were given to Mas’ud as an Auxiliary Board member for Protection for the Hands in the Western Hemisphere to deal with Covenant-breakers. One of the saddest occasions was when two close friends, with whom he had started mass teaching in Bolivia, had broken the Covenant after the passing of Shoghi Effendi.

Similarly Mas’ud had to deal along with the Hand of the Cause Abu’l Qásim Faizí with a case of members of a National Spiritual Assembly in South America that had broken the Covenant.

(The Khamsis: A Cradle of True Gold by Boris Handal)

https://bahai-library.com/pdf/h/handal_khamsis_cradle_gold.pdf

U.S. Covenant-Breakers Removed by Hands

On January 29 the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land expelled Reginald (Rex) King, his wife Myrtle, and his sons Ted and Eugene, based on Mr. King’s own evidence that he and his family are supporting the false claims of Mason Remey. All correspondence and association by Bahá’ís with any member of this family is now forbidden.

Covenant-Breaker in Chile is Expelled

At the request of the Hands residing in the Holy Land, the Hands of the Western Hemisphere have announced the defection of Fabien Guillon of Santiago, Chile, and her expulsion as a Covenant-breaker. All association with her is forbidden.

(Bahá’í News Issue 384, Baha'i Year 119, March 1963)

Shouldst thou be able to convince that Armenian gentleman (Atrpet Sargis Mubagajian) to write the truth, and himself repudiate what he hath written—which is utter falsehood and pure calumny—it would be most agreeable. Exert thou the utmost effort in this regard.

https://bahai-library.com/wwwboard/messages00/584.html

Also in the book Mírzá ‘Alí-Akbar-i-Nakhjavání by Ali Nakhjavani

'A new school has recently been opened in Tihran and Hubbu'llah, a son of the notorious Jamal-i-Burujirdi [father and son were both Covenant-breakers], was being considered for employment as a teacher. As soon as we heard this,...

(Adib Taherzadeh (2000). The Child of the Covenant. Oxford, UK: George Ronald.)

In September 1958 the National Assembly announced in Bahá’í News that the voting rights of Mrs. Stewart had been removed by the Regional Spiritual Assembly of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Within the next three years, Mrs. Stewart apparently forcefully voiced her further discontent with the administration of the Cause and perhaps with individual believers, and the August 1961 Bahá’í News carried the caution “Hands Warn of Covenant Breakers in Latin America” and stated “Mrs. Frances Stewart’[s]… current activities leave no doubt as to [her] intentions to sow the seeds of disunity wherever [she] go[es]” and that “because of [her] continued activities in opposition to the Covenant” she had been expelled.

…it can be seen that whereas before 1941 Mrs. Stewart was a respected and dynamic teacher with many friends and showing a great love for the Cause and for teaching, over a 20-year period had entered the arena of “willful opposition” to the Institutions of the Bahá’í Faith.

(The Gloriously Tragic Life of Mathew Kaszab - Letters from a pioneer 1939-1942)

In recent communications, the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land report the expulsion of Mrs. Frances Stewart of Argentina and Mr. Tony Fillon of Ecuador because of their continued activities in opposition to the Covenant. The voting rights of both Mrs. Stewart and Mr. Fillon had been removed some years ago but their current activities leave no doubts as to their intentions to sow the seeds of disunity wherever they go. The friends are admonished to have no further association or contact with them whether by correspondence or in person.

U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY ((Bahá’í News, Issue 365, August 1961)

https://bahai.works/Bahá’í_News/Issue_365/Text

-------------------------------------------------

Session 5: Covenant Breakers: in the East, the West, and at the World Center.

In the East:

'Abdu'l-Husayn Avarih (1853-1953): Native of Taft, clergyman, outstanding teacher, opium user, called to Haifa, fame in West, agitation in Egypt, expulsion, asks for income, he requested for reinstatement but did not repent, alliance with external enemies, shunned, bankrupt, his books; '..sordid and treacherous mind...' '...most shameless, vicious, relentless apostate...'

Faydu'llah Subhi: secretary to Master, followed Avarih, repented from the Faith to Ayatu'llah Burujirdi.

Fa'iq: American, in Egypt, founded 'Scientific Society'.

Falah: in Iskandarun, '...pride, obstinacy and insatiable ambition...'

Hasan-i-Niku: teacher of the Faith in India, followed Avarih, three books against the Faith, ignored by the believers.

In the West:

Ahmad Sohrab (1888-1958): sent to America by the Master to serve Mirza Abu'l-Fadl, secretary and interpreter of the Master, rebelled, formed 'The New History Society' and 'Caravan of East and West', attempted to penetrate American Baha'i community, joined the old Covenant breakers, press conference in Haifa and Tel Aviv, wife and daughter faithful, changed their names.

Dr. Amin Fareed: nephew of Munirih Khanum, son of Mirza Asadu'llah who transported the remains of the Bab to Akka, Interpreter of Abdu'l-Baha in West, MD from U. of Chicago sponsored by the Master, stole 'Abdu'l-Baha's seal and collected funds fraudulently, broke the Covenant, was expelled by 'Abdu'l-Baha, '...ungovernable cupidity...'

Mrs. Lewis Stuyvesant (Julie) Chanler: supported Ahmad Sohrab, petitioned President of Israel for property rights of Covenant breakers, representing 'free Baha'is'!

Mrs. Ruth White: challenged authenticity of the Will, petitioned US Postmaster General, her husband repented but could not remain faithful.

Dr. Herrigel: founder member of German Baha'i Community, followed Mrs. White

Dyre in Washington; and Fernald in Chicago;

And at the World Center:

Mirza Muhammad-'Ali (?-1937): The Greater Branch, son of Baha'u'llah, arch-breaker of the Covenant.

Mirza Badi'u'llah (?-1950): youngest son of Baha'u'llah,

Majdu'd-Din (?-1955): son of a faithful brother of Baha'u'llah (Mirza Musa, Aqay-i-Kalim), '...incarnation of Satan...'

Shu'a'u'llah (?-1950): son of Mirza Muhammad-Ali,

Musa (?-1950): son of Mirza Muhammad-Ali,

Haji Siyyid 'Ali Afnan: son of Haji Mirza Siyyid Hasan Afnan-i-Kabir, brother of the wife of the Bab, one of the greatest enemies of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Nayyir Afnan (?-1952), greatest enemy of Shoghi Effendi, son of Haji Siyyid 'Ali Afnan

Ruhangiz Rabbani: eldest sister of Shoghi Effendi, married Nayyir Afnan, arranged infiltration of Covenant breaking families into the family of 'Abdu'l-Baha by marriage

Mehrangiz Rabbani (Shoghi Effendi's younger sister), Hasan Afnan and Faydi Afnan, all expelled in Oct. 1941

Ruhi Afnan (secretary of the Guardian), Fu'ad Afnan, and Thurayya Afnan, children of Tuba Khanum, daughter of 'Abdu'l-Baha, expelled in Nov. 1941

Munib Shahid, son of Ruha Khanum, daughter of 'Abdul-Baha, expelled Nov. 1944.

Husayn Rabbani: younger brother and secretary of the Guardian, expelled April, 1945.

Riaz Rabbani: youngest brother of Shoghi Effendi, expelled Dec. 1951

https://web.archive.org/web/20140221112645/http://www.bci.org/bahaistudies/courses/shoghi.htm

At the time of the ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, Mirza Aqa Jan had already been expelled from the Faith and was unwelcome in Bahá'í circles. He lived a life of general misery and disgrace.

(Memories of Nine Years in Akka by Youness Khan Afroukhteh, Oxford: George Ronald, 1952/2003)

https://bahai-library.com/afroukhteh_nine_years_akka