Alison Marshall Was born in 1959 in Dunedin, New Zealand. She became a member of the New Zealand Baha'i community in 1980. During the 1980s, Alison served on the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Dunedin for about five years. In late 1994, Alison joined the Internet discussion group 'Talisman', which was set up for discussion on the Baha'i Faith. Over the next 18 months, it became clear that the discussions were considered heretical by the Baha'i administration. This event had a profound effect on Alison, who shift towards fundamentalism in the Baha'i community. Over the next two years, Alison also developed a keen interest in Sufism or Islamic Mysticism.