By: Siyyid Muhammad Tabib-i Manshadi
After this incident, the mob continued with their vicious attacks on the lives and property of Baha'is. Arriving at a neighborhood known as Karchinar, they encountered three believers -- Aqa Husayn, Aqa Ghulam-Ali and Aqa Ramadan -- who were attempting to flee in refuge to the mountains on the south side of Manshad. The mob followed them. Without any forewarning or provocation, the brother of the Kalantar, who was carrying a gun, fired and shot Aqa Husayn. As he fell, the mob opened fire on him, riddling his body with bullets. Not satisfied with this act, they stoned what remained of his mortal frame. Sixty-five years old at the time of his martyrdom, he was brought back to his own home and buried there.
After the unjust and cold-blooded murder of Aqa Husayn, the murderous mob targeted Aqa Ghulam-Ali, firing on him first and then clubbing and stoning his young body until it lay motionless. Regrettably, Aqa Ramadan suffered the same fate as did his companions. He was found taking refuge behind a large rock on the hill and, after being stoned to death, both he and Aqa Ghulam-Ali were buried on the same hill, a location which would remain as their permanent grave sites. Aqa Ramadan was twenty-two and Aqa Ghulam-Ali eighteen years old at the time their martyrdom.
The mob, like a pack of wolves, remained in the hill area until sunset, searching for any other Baha'is who might have taken refuge there. They then headed back to Manshad, where on the way they came upon Jinab-i Siyyid Mirza, the son of Siyyid Ahamd. Having forsaken his home out of fear of the enemies, he had fallen asleep on the ground while resting. Seeing him, two of the crazed citizens picked up a large, massive rock and delivered a fatal blow to the head of a dormant and defenseless Siyyid Mirza. Carrying him to his own orchard, the men buried him in a hurriedly dug grave -- a resting place which remained such until present day. He was seventy-five years old on the day of his martyrdom.
In sum, on that first day of upheavals, from one hour before noon until sunset, seven believers, in the most inhumane and reprehensible ways, were put to death. No sound could be heard that day except the shouts of a maddened populace, the roar of gun fire, and the cry of the friends' anguish. Only God knows what befell us all during those tragic events. At times I was given the news of yet another dear friend being put to death or hearing the mucking in the streets. At other times the foes would congratulate each other as if they won a great victory by killing innocent people and destroying the properties of Baha'is. All through this, I was constantly been threaten with death, yet I had no choice but to witness and remain patient in light of the horrendous events encircling the community.
The next day, Sunday, June 27, this servant was briefly visiting one of the friends, Haj Ali-Muhammad, at the hour of dawn. As I left his house, I saw ten gunmen entering the town. I asked someone on the street who these men were, and he responded that the men, all from the nearby villages, had heard about the killing and plundering of the possessions of the Baha'is of Yazd and Manshad and have come to have their share in it too. When the news of their arrival reached the mob, they joined forces and headed towards the homes of the believers.
The first home and shop they came upon belonged to the two aformentioned brothers: Jinab-i Shattir-Hasan and Aqa Ali- Akbar. All their belongings were either destroyed or plundered -- even the grapevines in their garden, which were uprooted and smashed. The house and the shop was then set afire.
Afterwards, about two hours before noon, the mob moved on to the House of Jinab-i Muhammad-Baqir who was one of the believers of Yazd visiting Manshad at that time. Another believer, Mulla Muhammad-i Manshadi, had taken refuge on the second floor of the house as well. Three persons from the rioting gang entered the house and located Mulla Muhammad. One of the three men told the others that Mulla Muhammad had been a teacher of his and suggested to leave him alone and spare his life. The other two did not agree and brought him downstairs, informing the others of his presence. The mob and the ten gunmen circled around him. One of the gunmen fired a shot at his chest which was then followed by another shot by another gunman. Then the rest either opened fire on Mulla Muhammad or stoned and clubbed him. After killing him so viciously, they tied a rope to his feet and dragged his body to the back of Aqa Ali-Akbar's house. Two of them brought gasoline and another poured it over the body and set it to fire. While burning, the rest of the crazed mob continued to stone the body -- so much so, that the charred remains was completely buried under the rocks and sticks. When the last signs of his body were covered, some poured water over the pile of rocks and left the scene. That evening, his son, Ustad Naqi, with the help of another believer, took the body and buried it in a property belonging to Mulla Muhammad. His resting place at the same spot. He was fifty-eight years old at the time of his martyrdom.
(to be continued)
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Translated by, and reprinted with permission of Ahang Rabbani.
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