It was believed that the practice of black-mailing the Babis was such a well-known successful one at Yezd that some of the low Mohammedans of the town tried to share in the profits and were disappointed.

This, it was said, led to the massacre which occurred there in April, 1891.
The Babis, notwithstanding divergence of opinion on many points, yet attend the mosques and the Moulla teachings, and comply with all the outward forms of religion, in order to avert the anger which continued absence from the congregation would draw upon them from hostile and bigoted neighbours.

Two of them were suddenly taxed in the Musjid with holding heterodox opinions, and were then accused of being Babis.

The discussion was carried outside and into the bazaar, the accusers loudly reviling and threatening them.

They were poor, and were thus unable to find protectors at once.