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HUSHANG AHDIEH
1929—1997
Born in August 1929 into a Bahá’í family, Hushang Ahdieh’s parents, Mr. Eshagh Ahdieh and Mrs. Monireh Ahdieh (Farhoumand), were descendants of wellknown Jewish families in Hamadan, Iran. His mother’s grandparents embraced the Faith in the early years of their settlement in that city and were among the first families to accept the Faith there and to be persecuted for it. His father accepted the Faith while still a young man, along With his brother, cousins, and other members of the family.
Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Ṭihrán. Hushang attended school there, and after completing high school, he
H ux/mn g A/Jdie/I
entered the Dental Faculty of the Ṭihrán University, graduating in 1954.
In response to appeals of the beloved Guardian urging the believers in Iran to arise and fill the goals of the recently inaugurated first World Crusade, he left Iran to pioneer to Africa in May 1955. With the help of his maternal uncle Dr. Heshmatollah Farhoumandw—the first pioneer to settle in Eritrea during the Ten Year Crusade—I—Iushang settled in Asmara joining the first group of recently arrived pioneers. He established a private dental practice and lived there for twenty—three years, during which time he married Nahid Ettehadieh (formerly of Hamadan) with whom he had two children, Shahin and Nika. These years were rich, blessing him with unforgettable memories and historic pioneering experiences.
In 1956 he was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly ofAsmara, and in 1961, after the transfer of the seat of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa from Cairo t0 Addis—Ababa, he served it for short periods as secretary and treasurer.
In 1968, after the establishment of the first Continental Boards of Counsellors, he was called to serve as an Auxiliary Board member for Protection in Central and East Africa. He continued in this capacity until 1973 when he was appointed by the Universal I—Iouse ofjustice to serve as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for that zone. Ten years later he was appointed as the Trustee of the Continental Fund for Africa.
Following the approval and guidance given him by the International Teaching Centre in 1978, he moved his residence from Asmara, Ethiopia, to Bangui in the Central African Republic.
231 See Heshmatoilah Farhoumand, pp. 262—65.
[Page 378]
378 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
In 1987, he was appointed as the Deputy of Ḥuqúqu’lláh for Central and East Africa by the Trustee of that institution, the Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ni—Muhammad Vatqé. He carried out this responsible task with complete detachment and in a spirit of utmost dedication until 1996.
Hushang passed to the Abhá Kingdom in the early hours of February 6, 1997. The Universal House of Justice, the International Teaching Centre, and the Trustee of Huqfiqu'lláh sent messages of condolence to his dear family. Dr. Varqa wrote:
COLLEAGUES AND FELLOW WORKERS GOD‘S HOLY CAUSE.
CONVEY HIS BELOVED WIFE AND DEAR CHILDREN DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND ASSURANCE OUR FERVENT PRAYERS IN HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS H15 RADIANT SOUL ABHA KINGDOM.
ADVISING NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY UGANDA HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERING HIS HONOUR IN HOUSE WORSHIP KAMPALA, AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES
With the passing of Dr. Hushang Ahdieh to the Abhá Kingdom, the institution of Ḥuqúqu’lláh has lost one of its clearest friends and precious co-workers, whose exemv platy life will serve as a model of detachment, dedication and love For the Faith. The memory of his membership in this institution as a Deputy of Ḥuqúqu’lláh in East Africa will adorn the golden page
of our organization in that country.
On February 6, 1997, the Universal House ofjustice wrote:
PROFOUNDLY GRIEVED PASSING DEARLY LOVED SERVANT FAITH, HUSHANG AHDIEH. HIS INDEFATIGABLE PIONEER SERVICES AFRICA, INCLUDING OVER TWO DECADES MEMBERSHIP CONTINENTAL BOARD COUNSELLORS THAT CONTINENT, AND TRUSTEE ITS FUND UNFORGETTABLE. HIS SELF-EFFACEMENT, HIS CAPACITY PROMOTE CONCORD, AND HIS WISDOM COMBINED WITH LOVE EXEMPLIFIED IN DISCHARGE HIS SACRED RESPONSIBILITIES WILL REMAIN SOURCE INSPIRATION HIS
THROUGHOUT AFRICA HOLD BEFITTING GATHERINGS THEIR COMMUNITIES.
