Táhirih, that peerless heroine of Iranian history,
courageously advocated the emancipation of women in 1848, at a time when
activity related to this principle was only beginning to gather momentum in
parts of the world. From that time on, you have raised generation after
generation of your children — both boys and girls — to value and express in
every facet of their lives this fundamental tenet of the Faith. In 1911, nearly
a century ago, you founded the Tarbíyat School for Girls in Tihrán, thereby making
an indelible mark on society by providing to girls of all backgrounds the
opportunity for education and enlightenment. For almost half a century now,
Bahá’í women have participated fully in all the administrative affairs of your
community at the local, regional, and national level. And decades ago, you
effectively eliminated illiteracy among Bahá’í women under the age of forty.
(The Universal House of Justice, from a message dated 20 June 2008, addressed
to the believers in the Cradle of the Faith)
