Regarding your question about military service, the Guardian
sees no reason why the Bahá’í in question should not bring a test case, and
press the matter. It is now, since he has become a follower of Bahá’u’lláh,
against his conscience to kill his fellow-men; and he should have the right to
explain his position and ask to be exempted from combatant service. During the
hearing of such cases the Bahá’ís should make it absolutely clear that we do
not fear being placed in danger, and are not asking to be given a safe berth in
hours of national crisis—quite the contrary—any dangerous service the Bahá’ís
can render their fellow-men during the agonies of war, they should be anxious
to accept.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 25 February 1951, written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi; printed in ‘The Unfolding Destiny’)
