Dr. Moojan Momen is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and a medical doctor by profession. Dr. Momen was born in Iran and raised in England. He has contributed to the Encyclopaedia of the Modern Islamic World and the Encyclopaedia Iranica, and has had papers published in various academic journals, including the International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Past and Present, and Iran and Religion.
Dr. Momen is a Fellow of the “Royal Asiatic Society” and a member of the “British Society for Middle Eastern Studies”, the “Society of Iranian Studies”, the “British Association for the Study of Religion,” and “The Association for Baha’i Studies”. He also has a role in the care of the Afnan Library, which was originally established by Hand of the Cause Hasan Balyuzi.
MOMEN, is an independent scholar with a special interest in history and doctrine of the Babi and Baha’i religion. In recent years, his interests have extended to the study of the phenomenon of religion. His principal publications in this field include: An Introduction to Shi’ism, The Babi and Baha’i Faiths 1844‑1944: Some Contemporary Western Accounts and The Phenomenon of Religion, Hinduism and the Baha’i Faith, Buddhism and the Baha’i Faith, Islam and Baha’i Faith, Baha’u’llah a short Biography.
Dr. Shapour Rassekh
Dr. Rassekh is an expert in sociology. He is also a former professor at the University of Tehran, and former Iranian Secretary of State for Economic and Social Planning. He worked as a consultant to UNESCO, the IIEP and IBE for many years. He is the author of several studies written for these organizations, including the contents of education: a worldwide view of their development from the present to year 2000 (1988 – in collaboration with G. Vaideanu); Perspectives on literacy: a selected world bibliography (1991); and Education et culture de la paix: sélection bibliographique mondiale (1996). He was co-editor of the report of the IBE curriculum development seminar for the countries of the Arabian Gulf held in Muscat, Oman in February 2001 on the theme “Management of Curriculum Change and Adaptation in the Gulf Region. He is among the editors of Payam-i-Baha’i international journal and has served as the member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is in Iran and later on, the Continental Board of Counselors in Europe.
Vahid Rafati is an Iranian scholar who obtained his Master of Psychology from the University of Tehran and his PhD in the field of Islamic studies from the UCLA,USA. He lives in Haifa since 1980 where he has worked in the Research Department for the Studies of the Baha’i Holy Texts first as a Director (1980- 2000) and since then has continued with his research on the Bah’i related studies.
Dr Rafati is the author of numerous books and articles in Persian and English on the Baha’i Ethics, History, literature and also completed some of the scholarly written works of the early Baha’is such as Ishraque Khavari and and Dr A. Davoudi. Some of his published works are:
The origin of poetry in the Baha’i writings, in 6 volumes.
History of the Baha’i faith in; Ardakan, Esfehan, Abadeh.
Yadnameh Mesbah-i-Monir, Bayza-e-Noora, Fazel Yazdi, Ishraque Khavari.
Payk-e-Rastan, Faran-e Houb, Nassim-e- Sahari.
Dr Rafati’s articles are published in: Encyclopedia Iranica, Khooshe ha-i-az Kharman Adab va Honar, Safineh Irfan, Payam Baha’i, Andalib and Payam Baha’i.
He is an excellent orator and stimulating teacher who through various presentations has opened many avenues for the Baha’i scholarships.
