…one of the provisions of that Most Holy Book is "not
to indulge one's passions" (see "Synopsis and Codification of the
Laws and Ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas", p. 50). Furthermore, reference
should be made to one of the "prohibitions" mentioned on page 47 of
the "Synopsis", namely "adultery". This word so appears in
this book because entries in a synopsis should by necessity be brief, and by
the original word used by Bahá'u'lláh in the Aqdas, i.e., "zina",
adultery is generally and mainly intended. However, this by no means covers all
the meanings of the concept of "zina" in legal language used in
Arabic and Persian. One of the forms of "zina" -- i.e., when the
illicit sexual intercourse is performed through force or violence -- is rape or
sexual assault.
As to the punishments for such acts as rape, these will be
determined in the future by the Universal House of Justice.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter
dated 8 June 1982 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an
individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, A Chase and Holy
Life)
