Hutton Inquiry: Baha’i faith would discourage suicide

DEBORAH SUMMERS

DAVID Kelly's Baha'i faith would have discouraged the weapon's expert from taking his own life, the inquiry heard yesterday.

Contrary to claims that the Baha'i religion advocated suicide, Barney Leith, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, told the inquiry "quite the opposite" was true.

For a man as private and contemplative as Dr Kelly, the Baha'i faith offered the perfect solace in which to worship.

Founded in 1844, it claims to be the world's newest religion which believes in one God.

Although not strictly pacifist, worshippers consider the faith should not take sides in the political controversies of the day and that humanity is a single race with a common destiny.

Baha'is do not believe in heaven or hell, saying that everyone has an opportunity for redemption.

This had led to a mistaken assumption they are proponents of suicide, an issue that became all the more important following Dr Kelly's death.

Mr Leith told the inquiry: "The act of suicide is condemned in Baha'i writings because it is an undue curtailment of a life that should be followed to the full.

"However, Baha'is do not and never would take a condemnatory attitude to people who unfortunately commit suicide."

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