“Alarmed at the growing number of Baha’u’llah‘s followers and admirers, the Sultan of Turkey banished Him, together with most of His close followers, to the city of Akka, in what was then Syria but is now part of Israel. There He was expected to die since it was well known that hardly anyone ever left Akka alive. Akka was a prison city which housed not only the worst criminals, but was exceptionally dirty. It was infested with vermin and plagued by the most terrible diseases. In spite of Baha’u’llah’s warning, about seventy of His family and friends went with Him of their own free will. After having spent almost five years in Adrianople, Baha’u’llah left on 12 August 1868 for Akka. Immediately on arrival, they were taken to the barracks and locked up. Soon everyone had become ill and three of the party died within a few days. Baha’u’llah Himself was imprisoned in a separate cell, and only His immediate family were allowed to visit Him there…” >>>
