Summary of Essential Practice Points: Bahá’í

1. Profile of the Bahá’í in Ireland:

The majority of Bahá’ís in Ireland are ethnic Irish people. There is also an Iranian community who has settled in Ireland. (Fulltext of Essential Point 1in Profile of the Bahá’ís in Ireland)

2. Religious contacts and religious practices:

There are no clergy in the Bahá’í religion. A local community contact can be sourced through the Irish National Secretary, whose details are at the end of the section. This contact can be called on for guidance for the healthcare settings and personal support for ill and dying Bahá’í. (Fulltext of Essential Point 2 in Religious Contacts)

3. Death-related religious rituals:

In the case of imminent death and where no family are immediately available the community member designated by the person should be called to support the person. There is no formal religious ritual for dying Bahá’í. (Fulltext of Essential Point 3 in Death-related religious rituals)

4. Cleaning and touching the body:

Healthcare staff may conduct the normal cleaning and washing practice on a deceased Bahá’í. It is customary for Bahá’í s to place a ring on the finger after death and in no circumstances should it be removed. (Fulltext of Essential Point 4 in Cleaning and touching the body)

5.Initiation ritual:

There is no formal initiation into the religion for infants even in the case of imminent threat to life. (Fulltext of Essential Point 5 in Initiation ritual)