In addition to the Temple [in Ishqabad] itself, two schools,
one for boys and one for girls, and a pilgrim house were built. The local
community, and the activities of the friends throughout the provinces of
Turkistan expanded and developed in stature until 1928, when the law
expropriating religious edifices was applied to this Temple. However, under the terms of two five-year
leases, the Baha'i community was permitted to continue to use the building as a
house of worship. In 1938 the Temple was
completely expropriated and converted into an art gallery.
In 1948 violent earthquakes shook the whole town causing
devastation and ruin. The building was seriously damaged. The only section
which remained relatively secure was the central rotunda. Heavy yearly rains
further weakened the structure to such a degree as to endanger the safety of
houses in the vicinity. It was at this
point that the authorities decided to demolish the remaining edifice and clear
the site.
A reliable report, recently received, indicates that had the
Temple been restored to us at this point, we should have had no option but to
raze the building ourselves.
