Persecution of the Bahá'í Community


Iranian Bahá'í Leadership (click here for profiles), imprisoned since 14 May 2008	The Bahá'í Question: Cultural Cleansing in Iran

Overview

The Bahá'í International Community works to protect the rights of persecuted Bahá'í communities. Throughout the history of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'ís have been persecuted for their religion, particularly in the Islamic world, where the Faith has been and continues to be viewed as heretical to Islam. In Iran, where they comprise the largest religious minority, Bahá'ís are denied access to education, employment; have been subjected to summary arrests and detentions; and have seen their cemeteries destroyed. They have never been able to openly practice their religion. Our Office continues to work for the restoration of the basic human rights of Bahá'ís, particularly those in the Islamic world, and ultimately, for their right to exist as a peaceful, law-abiding religious community.

For the most recent update on the situation of the Baha’is living in Iran, read our February 2010 Update Report and February 2010 Background Document. For past Reports and Background Documents, click here.

In Focus

Bahá'í International Community representative, Diane Alai speaking at a panel during the 14th Session of the Human Rights Council.

Geneva - Bahá'í International Community representatives participated in the 14^th session of the Human Rights Council. The situation of the human rights in Iran was raised a number of times by members of the Council and observers, including during the debate on country situations that require the attention of the Council. Countries raising the situation of the Bahá’ís included: Australia,Austria, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States.

The Bahá’í International Community addressed the Council on two occasions. First, representatives highlighted the situation of the trial of the former Bahá'í leaders as well as the plight of the imprisoned individuals in Shiraz (statement/ video). Second, in the context of the adoption of the report of Iran’s Universal Periodic Review, representatives expressed concern at Iran’s responses to questions raised by States and NGOs (statement/video).

Bahá'í International Community representative, Diane Ala’i, was a panellist in two side events: Human rights in Iran: Ethnic groups and religious minorities, organised by Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik, an Austrian-based NGO working with Iranian human rights defenders (9 June 2010); and Iran's Deepening Human Rights Crisis, an event sponsored by the Bahá’í International Community, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others (11 June 2010).

Recent Activities

Diane Ala'i, Human Rights Council, 12^th Session (2 October 2009) Video

31 May – 18 June 2010 - Bahá’í International Community representatives participated in the 14^th Session of the Human Rights Council (see In Focus story above)
26 March (Geneva) - Bahá’í International Community representatives attended the 13^th session of the Human Rights Council. On 15 March, Representatives Sarah Vader and Diane Alai read statements on the freedom of religion or belief (text/ video) and on the situation of the Bahá'ís in Iran (text/ video).
15 February 2010 - Iran came under the Universal Periodic Review - the mechanism set up by the UN Human Rights Council to examine the human rights record of each of the 192 Member States of the United Nations. The Bahá’í International Community was one of 67 NGOs that submitted documents to the OHCHR on Iran. more...
February 2010 -- In advance of the February 2010 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Bahá'í International Community submitted two documents regarding the state of human rights in that country, focusing in particular on the situation of the Bahá'í community. Read: UPR Contribution regarding Iran, UPR Contribution: Nature of the Persecution against the Bahá'í in Iran.