Born on D
ecember 17, 1981 to a loving family in Seattle, Washington, USA, Amin came from an Iranian heritage. His family had come to America after the Iranian revolution in 1979 to escape the persecution of members of the Bahá’í Faith – the largest religious minority in Iran. Amin was born at the height of post-revolution persecution, just days before his maternal grandfather and paternal aunt were put to death in the notorious Evin Prison in Tihran, Iran on account of their Bahá’í beliefs.
Amin grew up under the watch of a caring mother and a loving father and was blessed to have an older sister and a younger brother – all of whom he adored. He also had a large extended family including his grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, and more to whom he was close.
Amin had a full childhood with joyous birthday parties and karate classes, excelled at school and athletics, and had many friends. In his teens, he traveled to China to visit his aunt, uncle and cousins there. Together they took a memorable journey to Mongolia. That trip would leave an indelible mark in his life and influence his decision to base his career in China in later years.
After high school, Amin received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington in 2004 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Seattle University School of Law. After successfully completing the bar exam in Washington State, he decided to move to China and establish himself there. This meant learning a new language and culture which Amin embraced wholeheartedly and worked diligently to achieve. At the time of his passing, he was an Associate with the Beijing office of the California-based law firm, Sheppard Mullin.
Upon learning of his passing, the international governing Council of the Bahá’í Faith — the Universal House of Justice — sent its loving condolences to his family and described Amin as a “devoted servant of Bahá’u’lláh”.
Amin was full of hope, zeal and energy. He had impeccable taste, was good-looking, took good care of himself, ate well and was a master chef. He was cheerful, an excellent communicator, caring, confident, trustworthy, and spiritually enlightened. An accomplished lawyer, a loving son, a caring brother, and a good friend, he went out of his way to help others or lend a listening ear. Three outstanding qualities that will always be remembered by anyone who knew Amin are justice, trust and love. He will be greatly missed by all.
Amin is survived by his parents Shidfar (Sam) Amirkia and Farzaneh Amirkia, maternal grandmother Noura Azzizi, sister Laila and her husband Ashkan Yazdanpanah and their two children, his brother Vafa who continues to live amongst and serve the people of China, as well as a large extended family — plus many, many friends, colleagues and admirers who all mourn his untimely passing and will forever keep him in their hearts.
