6.   Allegations against Mirza Muhammad Ali

6.7  Allegation of ‘Crucifying Abbas Effendi on Mount Carmel’
In the Chose n Highway, PP. 202-205, Lady Blomfield quotes one of the sons-in-law of Sir Abbas a saying the following story:
“In 1916 the Master [i.e. Sir Abbas Effendi] was invited to lunch at the home of one of notables of Nazareth. Jamal Pasha [the Turkish Commander-in-Chief] was present at the lunch when the master sat down at one o’clock and arose from the table at four. During all those hours [Sir Abbas Effendi] Abdul Baha was speaking in Turkish on Philosophical and scientific subjects, and on heavenly teachings.
So intense was his utterances that all stopped eating while they listened to his blessed words”.
“Jamal Pasha, who had been his great enemy because of false accusations, had not paid the proper respect to Abdul Baha. Now, however, having heard the master speak so learnedly and wisely, he was most deferential and full of kinds of politeness. When the time came for the master to rise, Jamal Pasha most courteously held the Beloved’s arm to assist him to leave the table, and himself led the way to the reception room and seated the master comfortably. “The next day, his work of making a friend of an old enemy having been accomplished, he returned to Haifa”.

In Chapter V. Danger to Abdul Baha, his family and friends, P. 219-228, the Chosen Highway, Lady Blomfield quotes “The story from the side of Haifa is told by Major Tudor-Pole, V.C:

(P. 222): “It was during March 1918 that information reached me from our own espionage service that the Turkish Commander-in-Chief [Jamal Pasha] had stated his definite information to “crucify Abdul Baha and his family on Mount Carmel” should at Turkish army be compelled to evacuate Haifa and retreat northwards”. (P. 223): “ … As a result, General Allenby was provided with full particulars in regard to 'Abdul Baha's record and the history of the Movement of which He was the Master. Allenby at once issued orders … that immediately the town [of Haifa] was entered, a British guard was to be posted at once around Abdul Baha’s house … Mens were found for making it known within the enemy lines that stern retribution would follow any attempt to cause death or injury to the great Persian Master or to any of his household. I believe that warning played its part in safeguarding Abdul Baha’s welfare at that time when Haifa was ultimately taken, these instructions for posting a guard was duly carried out, and all dangers of death or accidents were thereby averted. It is not possible to say for certain whether disaster would have resulted otherwise, but as the town was full of Turkish spies for some time after its capture (many of whom knew the Turkish Command-in-chief's [Jamal Pasha's] firm intention to massacre Abdul-Baha and his family at that period), action with this end in view might have been seriously and successfully attempted, were it not for the taking of the precautions referred to above."
(P. 223) "The honour and protection shown to the Bahai leader at (P.224) that time were greatly appreciated by him and considerably helped British prestige in Persia (now Iran) and elsewhere in the new and Middle East. He told me this himself."
The missing links in these two "stories" are:

1. what were the "false accusations", which antagonised the Turkish Commander-in-Chief Jamal Pasha?
2. Why should the Turkish Commander-in-Chief Jamal Pasha wish to "crucify Abd-al-Baha, who had made a friend of an old enemy". Major Tudor-Pole’s “story” is based on “our own espionage service”.

As a result of “Lord Allenby’s great drive in September 1918, Haifa and Acre were cleared of Turks”. The Hand Book of Palestine by Sir Harry Luke and Edward Keth-Roach, P. 28.

"On the 4th December, 1919, Sir Abbas Effendi Abdul-Baha was credited by King George V, a K.B.E for valuable service rendered to the British Government in the early days of occupation." The Handbook of Palestine, ibid, P.50. Baha'u'llah's son and successor ended a successful career as Sir Abdul-Baha, K.B E. thus joining the Aqa Khan as a divinity with the honour of a British Knighthood." Cyprus by Sir Harry Luke, P. 123.

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