You only have to know three names to understand this story: (1) Remey, (2) Abdu’l-Bahá, and (3) Jensen. The U.S. court’s opinion rejecting the appeal of the Baha’i leader’s rape conviction is below. And as you will see Remey sought to design a Baha’i building in Iran.
Charles Remey:
Charles Remey was a prominent American Bahá’í, with a close relationship with one of the central Baha’i holy figures, Abdu’l-Bahá, and was one of the people that organized his family’s trips to the U.S. and looked after them. Remey was also an architect within the Bahá’í leadership. He designed the Australian and Ugandan Bahá’í House of Worship which still stand today and are the “mother temples” for Africa. Upon the request of Shoghi Effendi, Abdul Baha’s son, Remey made designs for a Bahá’í House of Worship in Tehran. Remey was also a member of what is called ‘Nine Hands of the Cause’ (the Baha’I leadership) elected as the authority until the election of what is called Israel’s ‘Universal House of Justice’ in 1963.
Remey was well-liked by`Abdu’l-Bahá and worked with him:
Abdu’l-Bahá praised Remey’s efforts and character in a a writing (called a “Tablet”) to Corrine True, published in the Bahá’í newsletter “Star of the West” in August 1920.
What follows is one of the many examples of `Abdu’l-Bahá’s affection for Remey:
“Praise be unto God, that the model [of the structure] made by Mr. Bourgeois was approved by his honor, Mr. Remey, and selected by the Convention. His honor, Mr. Remey is, verily, of perfect sincerity. He is like unto transparent water, filtered; lucid and without any impurity. He worked earnestly for several years, but he did not have any personal motive. He has not attachment to anything except to the Cause of God. This is the spirit of the firm and this is the characteristic of the sincere.” (Star of the West. Volume 11, No. 9, p. 139)
Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921 stated the following about Remey:
“I have adopted you as my son. You have to appreciate this favor very much indeed. One should see that you are living according to the requirements of this sonship. You should be aware of your responsibilities. My prayers will help you. I always pray for you.” (`Abdu’l-Bahá to Remey, 1921: Final Visit in Tiberias, Folio 2, “A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Reminisces of the Master, 1921”, pp.127-129)
Remey & Jensen:
Remey’s close associate was a man by the name of Dr. Leland Jensen, (“Local Bahá’í Leader dead at 81”. August 8, 1996. Missoulian p. B2). Remey and Jensen implemented a scheme to use children, sexually, to lure people to the Baha’i movement. During the three Iranian eras (Qajar, Pahlavi, and IRI) there were similar complaints, and there were similar complaints during the 1940s and 1950s by India’s and Pakistan’s Parsi (Zoroastrian) Community.
The court’s affirmation of the Baha’i leaders child rape conviction:
SEPTEMBER 24, 1969.
STATE OF MONTANA, PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT,
v.
DR. LELAND JENSEN, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT PETITIONER.
Original Proceeding for Post-conviction Relief made by Inmate of the Montana State Prison
PER CURIAM OPINION
Defendant in this cause has filed a petition for post-conviction relief. Defendant had appealed his conviction to this Court and it was affirmed. See State v. Jensen, 153 Mont. 233, 455 P.2d 631.
In his petition defendant asserts that his sentence and the proceedings whereby it was procured violated the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, in that:
1. Section 94-4106, R.C.M. 1947, as applied to this case and the sentence imposed constituted cruel and unusual punishment;
2. Said section 94-4106, R.C.M. 1947, as applied to his case is vague and without standards;
3. The State called for production of evidence by the defendant before he testified; and
4. The State forbid defendant and his counsel from interviewing witnesses called by the State.
Section 94-4106, R.C.M. 1947, reads: “Any person over the age of eighteen (18) years, who shall wilfully and lewdly commit any lewd and lascivious act, other than the acts constituting other crimes provided in section 94-4101 to 94-4108, upon or with the body or any part or member thereof, of a child under the age of sixteen (16) years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust or passions or sexual desires of such person, or of such child, shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be imprisoned in the state prison not exceeding twenty-five (25) years.”
This statute was originally enacted as Sec. 1, Ch. 59, Laws of 1913, and remains substantially the same today except that the penalty was increased by Sec. 1, Ch. 57, Laws of 1959. The constitutionality of this statute was upheld in State v. Kocher, 112 Mont. 511, 119 P.2d 35. There is nothing cruel or unusual about a sentence confining one to the state prison for the commission of a felony.
The second contention that the statute is vague and without standards is without merit. As stated by this Court in the Kocher case, supra, the elements of the crime as set forth in the statute are: first, the offender must be over the age of 18 years; second, a lewd or lascivious act must have been committed upon or with the body or any part or member thereof, of a child under 16 years of age; and third, the act must have been committed with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust or passions or sexual desires of the accused or the child. There is nothing vague about this language and the standards are specifically set forth.
As to the request by the State for the production of evidence by defendant before he testified, it is true as disclosed by the quote from the record that the prosecution stated: “We will call upon the doctor to produce that card.” No objection was made to this request, in fact counsel for the defendant stated: “We have the case history here and we will be glad to give it to you.” However, even if we were to concede, arguendo, that the State should not have made any such request, what prejudice resulted? None. Defendant willingly furnished what was requested without any objection whatever.
The final assertion, that the State forbid the defense from interviewing witnesses. In support of this charge defendant submits excerpts from the trial transcript of cautionary remarks made by the trial judge to witnesses, advising them not to talk with anyone about the case on trial and if they desired advice as to the proper thing to do in any such situation they should consult the county attorney. Thus it was the statements of the trial judge rather than any remarks made by the prosecution that are cited in support of the contention. These matters were considered by this Court upon the appeal as indicated by the following paragraph from our opinion:
“During the course of the trial the court on several occasions gave instructions to the witnesses and made other comments, some of which may have implied to the jury that the court felt the witnesses were telling the truth. We find no merit in appellant’s argument on this issue. At no time did his counsel object to these comments. The leading case in Montana on comments by the court is State v. Dixson, 80 Mont. 181, 260 P. 138 (1927). In that case objection to the comment was made immediately and we see no reason why that should not have been done here. The general rule is that the lower court cannot be put in error with an issue raised for the first time on appeal. State v. Campbell, 146 Mont. 251, 405 P.2d 978 [22 A.L.R.3d 824] (1965).”
There being no merit to any of the contentions made by the defendant his petition for post-conviction relief is denied.
