Baháʼí Faith in Slovakia
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The Baháʼí Faith in Slovakia dates from about 1916 with an appeal by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá that Baháʼís should take the religion to the regions of Europe including Slovakia, then part of the empire of Austria-Hungary.[1] It is unclear when the first Baháʼís entered Slovakia, but there were Baháʼís in what is now Czechoslovakia by 1910. As the communist period was ending, there is evidence of activity in Slovakia starting around 1989.[2] Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in late 1991, Baháʼí communities and their administrative bodies started to develop across the region formerly under the influence of the Soviet Union, including Czechoslovakia.[3] In 1991 Slovakia's first Baháʼí Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in Bratislava, which is also home to the Forel International School.[4] Separate national assemblies for the Czech Republic and Slovakia were formed in 1998.[3] While registration with the national government of Slovakia is not required it is required for many religious activities as well as owning property.[5] In 2007 representatives of the Baháʼí Faith submitted 28,000 signatures of supportive citizens to the government of Slovakia, gaining official recognition as a registered religious community.[6] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 680 Baháʼís in 2005.[7]