In 1868 the Sultan further banished Bahá’u’lláh, ordering Him to the Ottoman prison city of ‘Akká (Acre), a destination so remote that it was thought this was where His religion would surely die out.
The house of Bahá’u’lláh in Adrianople was surrounded by guards, and all of His family and followers were taken for interrogation. They were informed that some of them would be sent to ‘Akká while others — including Mírzá Yahyá — would go to Cyprus.
Some of the consuls of foreign powers, who had been impressed by Bahá’u’lláh and the stainless character of His son ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, offered to intervene on His behalf, "suggestions for which He expressed appreciation, but which He firmly declined." (13)
