Baháʼí Faith in Slovakia

Before 1918, the region of Slovakia was part of the empire of Austria–Hungary. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, wrote a series of letters, or tablets, to the followers of the religion in the United States in 1916–1917 suggesting Baháʼís take the religion to many lands, including these. These letters were compiled in the book titled Tablets of the Divine Plan, but its publication was delayed owing to World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic. They were translated and published in Star of the West magazine on 12 December 1919.[8] One tablet says in part:

"In brief, this world–consuming war has set such a conflagration to the hearts that no word can describe it. In all the countries of the world the longing for universal peace is taking possession of the consciousness of men. There is not a soul who does not yearn for concord and peace. A most wonderful state of receptivity is being realized.… Therefore, O ye believers of God! Show ye an effort and after this war spread ye the synopsis of the divine teachings in the British Isles, France, Germany, Austria–Hungary, Russia, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Portugal, Rumania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, San Marino, Balearic Isles, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete, Malta, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands, Hebrides and Orkney Islands."[9]

It is not clear when the first Baháʼís entered Slovakia but there were Baháʼís in Czechoslovakia by 1910. However in the Soviet sphere during the period of the Warsaw Pact the civil government adopted the Soviet policy of oppression of religion, so the Baháʼís, strictly adhering to their principle of obedience to legal government, abandoned its administration and properties.[10] There was a group of Baháʼís in Prague for a period of time.[3]

As the period of communist dominance in Eastern Europe was ending, there is evidence of organized activity in Slovakia dating from around 1989.[2] Significant expansion and consolidation of Baháʼí communities was occurring by the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in late 1991, with Baháʼí administrative bodies elected throughout areas that had been cut off behind the Iron Curtain, including Czechoslovakia.[3] 1991 saw the election of the first Baháʼí Local Spiritual Assembly, in Bratislava,[4] and later in the same year of the National Spiritual Assembly of Czechoslovakia and the Local Assembly of Košice. Separate national assemblies for the Czech and Slovak Republics were formed in 1998.[3]

Registration of religious groups is not required under Slovak law, only registered religious groups have the legal right to own property, build places of worship, officiate at marriages, and conduct public worship services and other activities. Those that register are eligible for financial support from the government, including subsidies for clergy and administrative expenses. The Baháʼís of Slovakia were among a short list of recognized communities refusing to accept such financial support,[5] as Baháʼí law prohibits financial contribution from outside the Baháʼí community. In early 2007, representatives of the Baháʼí Faith submitted to the government of Slovakia 28,000 signatures from citizens in support of their registration. This met the contemporary requirement for recognition as a registered religious community, which was soon granted by the Slovak government.[6] At the time, there is mention of there being 200 members of the Slovak Baháʼí community.[15] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 680 Baháʼís in 2005.[7] Shortly thereafter, the law was changed to require 20000 individuals to actually be members of the religion before it could be registered.[5]