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In the Holy Land, where a Baha'i cemetery had, before these pronouncements, been established during Abdu'l- Baha's ministry, the historic decision to bury the Baha'i dead facing the Qiblih in Akka was taken-- a measure whose significance was heightened by the resolution to cease having recourse, as had been previously the case, to any Muhammadan court in all matters affecting marriage and divorce, and to carry out, in their entirety and without any concealment whatever, the rites prescribed by Baha'u'llah for the preparation and burial of the dead. This was soon after followed by the presentation of a formal petition addressed by the representatives of the local Baha'i community of Haifa, dated May 4, 1929, to the Palestine Authorities, requesting them that, pending the adoption of a uniform civil law of personal status applicable to all residents of the country irrespective of their religious beliefs, the community be officially recognized by them and be granted "full powers to administer its own affairs now enjoyed by other religious communities in Palestine."
(369:1)
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