Cyrus, the great king of Persia hailed as the Saviour - the only king recorded in the Bible as having given freedom to the Jews to return to Israel. He also rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem and retrieved its pillaged treasures. (Ezra 1:2, Esther 8:9)

The first recorded charter of human rights was written by the Persian Kings, under the influence of the Teachings of Zoroaster. Persia was the torch bearer of civilisation.

“The greatest of the world’s philosophers marvelled at the wisdom of her (Persia’s) government, and her political system became the model for all the kings of the four continents then known. “ (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilisation, p.7)

“When a just man’s soul passes over that bridge (Chinvat) it becomes as wide as a parasanga (an ancient Persian measure=about 6 km), and the just man’s soul passes accompanied by the pious Srosh. Then the good works he has accomplished advance towards him in the form of a maiden who is more beautiful and good than any maiden in the world. The just man’s soul says: ‘Who are you, for in all the world I never saw a more beautiful and better maiden than you?’ The form of the maiden answers: ‘I am not a maiden, I am your righteous actions, O young man of righteous thought, of righteous words, of righteous actions, of the righteous Religion! For when - in the world - you saw someone sacrificing to the demon you, instead, started adoring God, and when you saw someone carrying out violence and robbery and afflicting and despising good men and gathering in their substance with evil actions you, instead, avoided treating creatures with violence and robbery; you took care of the just and welcomed them and gave them lodgings and gifts. Whether your wealth came from near or from afar, it was honourably acquired. And when you saw people give false judgements and allow themselves to be corrupted with money and commit perjury you, instead undertook to tell the truth and speak righteously. I am your righteous thoughts, your righteous words, your righteous actions - thought, spoken, done by you. For, though I was already esteemed you made me even more esteemed, and though I was already honoured, you made me even more honoured and though I was already splendid, you rendered me still more splendid.” (Zoroastrian Scripture, quoted in ‘Religion in Iran’ by Alessandro Bausani, p.52)