faith Bábism and accepted. Ásíyih soon joined to the new faith and became a fervent convert. She helped hide the Bábí leader Táhirih in her private parlour whilst she was hiding from government forces. On 15 August 1852, a radical group of Bábís attempted the assassination of the Shah and failed. The group of Bábís linked with the plan were rounded up and killed, and, notwithstanding the assassins' claim that they were working alone, the entire Bábí community was blamed and a general pogrom of the Bábí community was started by the Shah. Bahá’u’lláh was arrested. Ásíyih’s home was looted, its possessions were taken away and she was left in practical poverty. She fled with her children and at times struggled to find enough money to feed them. They recall being given a handful of flour to satiate their hunger. Baghdad Bahá’u’lláh was eventually released, but banished from his homeland to Baghdad. Though both Bahá’u’lláh and Ásíyih were well-connected through their families, many distanced themselves from the couple during this time. On leaving, no-one came to say goodbye save the "grandmother of Ásíyih Khánum". She reluctantly left her youngest child, Mihdí, in her care. In the freezing winter of January 1853, the family began their journey to Baghdad. Ásíyih Khánum accompanied Baháʼu'lláh, who was weak and ill from his months in the dungeon, becoming his closest companion and confidante. She was also pregnant during the journey – causing her much difficulty. In 1854 Baháʼu'lláh decided to retreat to Kurdistan and left his two brothers Mírzá Músá and Subh-i-Azal to care for the family. According to her children’s recollections, Azal curtailed the family’s freedom. When Ásíyih's baby needed a doctor he forbade her from getting one. This child, born in Baghdad was named ʻAlí-Muhammad after the Báb. He died around 1855 at the age of two. Her daughter explains: "the sweet body of our beautiful baby was given to a man, who took it away, and we never knew even where he was laid. I remember so clearly the sorrow of those days". Bahá’u’lláh eventually returned, resulting in some stability for the family. Constantinople and Adrianople The family were subsequently exiled again to Constantinople in 1863. Shortly after the arrival in Constantinople they were exiled to the remote Adrianople. The journey was an exhausting and wearisome one during the winter. The cold took its toll on Ásíyih and she fell gravely