Situation of Iranian Bahá’ís

Situation of Baha’is in Iran

Media reports

Reports in the news media about the situation of Iranian Baha’is

The Times10 February 2018

International lawyers and human rights activists have appealed in an open letter to the head of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights for an end to the regime’s persecution of the Baha’is.

The signatories, who include Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws, QC, a member of the International Commission of Jurists, and Richard Goldstone, a former chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, told Javad Larijani, the council’s secretary, that innocent followers of the faith, which was founded in Iran in 1863, were arbitrarily arrested, tortured and imprisoned for many years solely on the basis of their faith. Thousands of Baha’is were refused access to university and not allowed to participate in Iran’s economic life.

“Such persecution and discriminatory treatment represents violations…

 
The Wall Street Journal12 May 2017

Opinion piece by US Commission on Religious Freedom Commissioner Kristina Arriaga outlines ongoing nature of persecution of Iranian Baha'is and calls for the immediate release of the seven imprisoned Iranian Baha'i leaders and other religious prisoners of conscience.

BBC News Magazine18 January 2017
The largest non-Muslim minority in Iran, the Bahais, are persecuted in many ways - one being that they are forbidden from attending university. Some study in secret, but for those who want to do a postgraduate degree the only solution is to leave their country and study abroad.
The World Post18 December 2016

This article details the arrest of Baha’i Navid Aghdasi who was taken by the Iranian government and given no reason. Aghdasi’s arrest symbolizes the cruelty experienced by religious minorities, particularly the Baha’is, in Iran and the lack of humanity they are treated with.

Ecumenical News17 November 2016

A United Nations committee has expressed serious concerns about "severe limits" on the right to freedom of religion or belief in Iran, and specifically about the ongoing persecution of Iranian Bahá'ís.

Associated Press25 October 2016

Report by AP UN Correspondent Edith Lederer about the release of a report by the Baha'i International Community about Iran's continuing and unabated oppression of Iranian Baha'is, despite President Hassan Rouhani's promises to end religous discrimination.

The Guardian24 October 2016

A special UN rapporteur has condemned widespread human rights abuses in Iran, including allegations of abuse against religious minorities, such as the jailing of 109 Baha'is as of May 2013 and 300 cases of abuse of Baha'i children in schools.

The Guardian4 October 2016

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has given a damning assessment of human rights in Iran, including the persecution of Iran’s Bahá’í community, who he described as “the most severely persecuted religious minority” in the country, saying they face discrimination in various areas, including access to higher education or simply work.

RNS (Religion News Service)13 July 2016

Iran’s goal to eliminate the largest non-Muslim religious community of their nation: the Baha’is, has come with worldwide protest and outrage. However, there are still signs that their goal is being slowly achieved through increased persecution and the lack of human rights.

Fast Co.exist11 July 2016

This article explains why Iranian-American journalist Maziar Bahari started the Not A Crime Campaign: a movement of street art muralists who paint to expose Iran of its unjust human rights system. Bahari then goes on to say what he pictures the movement will accomplish.

The Village Voice8 July 2016

Fifteen murals are being created in Harlem, New York to raise awareness for journalist Maziar Bahari’s Not A Crime campaign. The movement brings awareness to the lack of education, press freedom, and other human allotted to religious minorities like the Baha’is around the world.

Muftah1 July 2016

This article explains recent and significant events around the seven imprisoned Baha’i religious leaders and the condition of Baha’i human rights in Iran. It debates whether these events have improved or deteriorated the rights of Baha’is in Iran. The article also includes details of the campaign launched by the Baha’i International Community regarding these issues.

Columbia University SIPA5 June 2016

This paper looks in to the situation of Iran’s persecuted Baha'i community in the context of the Islamic Republic’s legal framework as well as President Hassan Rouhani’s proposed Citizenship Rights Charter.

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran1 June 2016

Following a meeting with a former Iranian president’s daughter, Baha’i prisoner and leader, Fariba Kamalabadi and some twenty-five other female political prisoners are being collectively punished by the Iranian government. The women, wrongly imprisoned in the first place, now are forbidden to send letters to family and friends or take furloughs.

BBC18 May 2016

While on leave from prison, Fariba Kamalabadi, a Baha’i female leader met with her friend, Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of former Iranian president, provoking an uproar in the Iranian government and amongst its citizens.

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