“It hurts to watch, and we look away, but this is the exact moment to notice.” In a powerful joint video statement leading a global chorus of support for the persecuted Baha’is in Iran, the Hollywood actors Mark Ruffalo, Penn Badgley and Rainn Wilson have demanded the release of Peyvand Naimi, a young Baha'i detainee in Iran whose life is in extreme danger.

Peyvand, who was arrested on 8 January, and his cousin Borna Naimi, taken on 1 March, have faced mock executions, torture, solitary confinement, and other ill-treatment, as Islamic Republic authorities attempt to force them to confess to crimes they did not commit.

Peyvand and Borna are both young athletes, one a swimming athlete and the other a karate champion. They were subjected to persecution for their faith throughout their lives, banned from sports activities and competitions only because they are Baha’is, denied university and employment, all for their faith. And now, imprisoned for the same reason. 

The powerful video by the actors caps weeks of non-stop support by parliamentarians, government officials, activists and media figures since the Baha'i International Community (BIC) first exposed the Iranian government’s “preposterous” accusations and “cruel” torture of Peyvand and Borna Naimi in custody.

Government officials, international media, and civil society organizations have swung into action to defend the rights of detained Baha'is in response to Peyvand’s and Borna’s torture and persecution.

Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action statement for Peyvand Naimi and Borna Naimi, stating that agents “subjected them to torture and other ill-treatment including beatings, mock executions and electric shocks to force ‘confessions’ and have denied them access to lawyers and medical care.” Amnesty called on the public to write letters addressed to Iran's Head of Judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, to release Peyvand and Borna immediately.

Across continents, a broad and ever-growing coalition of voices has emerged for Peyvand and Borna. Officials across the world and multiple international bodies, with political leaders from members of national parliaments and the European Parliament to municipal deputies and commissioners for freedom of religion or belief, have all called for the immediate and unconditional release of both young men and condemned the systematic scapegoating of the Bahá'í community in Iran during the country’s ongoing crisis.

“The extraordinary global outpouring of support for Peyvand and Borna sends a clear message to the Iranian government: the international community stands united in support of these two innocent young Baha’is, who have committed no crime,” said Simin Fahandej, BIC Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. “They are simply victims of longstanding religious persecution—targeted not for their actions, but for their identity.”   

A united international response 

The Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, raised the alarm over Peyvand and Borna and called for freedom for all prisoners of conscience or political prisoners in the country.

The campaign's media reach extended to hundreds of millions of people worldwide, with coverage spanning primetime television broadcasts, flagship radio bulletins, and major print outlets across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

It has included reports and interviews on CNN, Agence France-Presse, Australia's ABC News, ABC NewsRadio, SBS World News television report together with its accompanying podcast and article,  SBS Persian, and AdelaideNow; Austria's Kleine Zeitung; Brazil’s Brasil 247; Canada's National Post and Star Phoenix; France's Atlantico; India's The Indian Express, Lokmat Times ANI News, The Tribune, The Print, Free Press Journal, Ukhrul Times and Nenow.in; Ireland's RTÉ; Luxembourg's Luxembourg Times; Malaysia’s Malaysia Sun; Slovakia’s Noviny Spain's RTVE Noticias, El País, and Contraparte; Sweden's Sydsvenska Dagbladet; the United Kingdom's The Guardian; and the United States’ Alaska News Source, with more stories due in the coming days.

Persian language media outlets have also played a major role in reaching millions of Persian-speaking audiences worldwide, amplifying the urgency of the cases through exclusive interviews, in-depth reporting, and sustained social media engagement. BBC Persian’s reporting came as part of a major 60-minute bulletin. Multiple reports and interviews have been published on Iran International, BBC Persian, Voice of America, Manoto, Radio Farda, and Radio Zamaneh.

Governments and institutions mobilize

The response from governments and international institutions has been equally far-reaching.

Across Europe and beyond, officials in Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Luxembourg, Canada, Australia, India, and Czechia have issued statements, parliamentary interventions, and public appeals—reflecting a rare level of coordinated international concern.

Several United States officials staged high-profile interventions on Peyvand’s behalf, including Congressman Don Beyer, who reposted the Bahá'í International Community's coverage of Peyvand's case; Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, who said “No person should be targeted for their religion,” and called for immediate action on Iran's “relentless assault” on the Bahá'ís, while Vicky Hartzler, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, condemned “yet another brutal example of Iran's crackdown on religious minorities.”

The European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights, Kajsa Ollongren, called for the “inhumane practice” of mock executions to end, and for action to “prevent executions in Iran,” citing Peyvand’s case directly.

European parliamentarians including Daniel Attard, Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with Iran, detailed Peyvand Naimi's conditions in a parliamentary session and said Peyvand had been “detained, tortured, subject to mock executions, pushed to confess to crimes he simply did not commit.” Hannah Neumann, Chair of the Delegation for relations with Iran, added that his case is “emblematic of thousands of abuses currently unfolding inside Iranian prisons, in the shadows of escalation.”

Several other European Parliament members, including Engin Eroglu, and Danuše Nerudová, issued public statements condemning the treatment of Peyvand Naimi and noting that the “scapegoating of the Bahá'í community in Iran” is “unacceptable.”  Hildegard Bentele, speaking in the European Parliament’s chamber, drew direct attention to Peyvand’s case, while Michael Gahler and Isabel Wiseler-Lima posted to X condemning Peyvand’s treatment, Nikos Papandreou and Evin Incirreleased video appeals warning that Peyvand “has been held in solitary confinement for months.” Helmut Brandstätter shared an article on the case and called for an end to “torture, mock executions, and endless interrogations.” Neils Geuking released a video statement concerning Peyvand’s case, reinforcing growing international concern. Özlem Alev Demirel also publicized the matter, while Nela Riehl called for “the immediate release of Peyvand and Borna Naimi, who are at imminent risk of execution, all detained Bahá'ís, and all prisoners of conscience.”

Across European capitals, the response was similarly unified.

In Germany, the country’s Freedom of Religion or Belief Government Commissioner, Thomas Rachel, said he was “shocked by the case of Peyvand Naimi” and demanded his immediate release.

Six members of the Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament, Norbert Altenkamp, Norbert Röttgen, Lamya Kaddor, and Bodo Ramelow have also spoken out, with Ramelow condemning “torture and mock executions” and the attempted “destruction of the Bahá'í community in Iran.”

In the United Kingdom, Sir Alan Campbell, Leader of the House of Commons, vowed to urge the country’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to respond to Peyvand’s situation. Lord David Alton, a member of the House of Lords, said the torture used against Peyvand and Borna were “clearly motivated to extract false confessions under duress.” Jim Shannon, an MP, warned that Peyvand’s situation has “serious implications for the wider Baha’i community in Iran.”

In Austria, Petra Bayr, President of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly and Chair of the Austrian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned the detention and torture of Peyvand Naimi and demanded his immediate, unconditional release. 

MP Robert Laimer said on Instagram that Peyvand Naimi’s plight was “another piece of evidence of the systematic persecution of Baha’is in Iran” and insisted that “the international community is called upon to take a clear position and to call for the protection of basic human rights.” The MP Andreas Minnich, likewise called an end to the scapegoating of Baha’is in Iran during times of crisis.

In Portugal, MP Rodrigo Saraiva submitted a vote proposal to the Portuguese parliament and the legislature’s Commission on Foreign Affairs subsequently passed a motion condemning the persecution and calling for Peyvand’s immediate release.

In Czechia, Robert Řehák, the Special Envoy for Holocaust, Interfaith Dialogue and Freedom of Religion posted on X in support of Peyvand, saying that Peyvand “needs our voice.”

In Sweden, MP Kadri Kasriga declared that “this is not individual abuse, it is systematic oppression.” Former MP and EU Minister Birgitta Ohlsson, shared the EU Special Representative's X post. Sweden’s Deputy Mayor, Anders Österberg, also shared the video posted to Instagram by Mark Ruffalo, Penn Badgley, and Rainn Wilson.

In Luxembourg, Member of the Chamber of Deputies, Paul Galles, said the “fabricated charges against Peyvand Naimi and Borna Naimi are deeply alarming,” while MP Nathalie Morgenthaler stated that “freedom of religion, human dignity and the rule of law must be respected, even in times of war” 

In Canada, the country’s Global Affairs Office of Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion called for the immediate release via Facebook and X. And Judy Sgro MP raised the cases in the House of Commons, raising concerns for  wider scapegoating of the Baha’i community. 

In Australia, MP Sophie Scamps highlighted Peyvand’s case with an official statement, stating that “Tragically, Iranian authorities continue to undertake a deliberate strategy of persecution against Baha’is in Iran for their beliefs,” while calling for “urgent international attention to Mr Naimi’s case and that the persecution of Baha’is ends immediately.” 

In India, Dr. Sasmit Patra, Member of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's Parliament, posted on X, urging Iranian authorities to ensure Peyvand's safety and fair trial, saying that “the sanctity of human life and the right to a fair trial must remain paramount.”

Another parliamentarian in India, Sulata Deo, echoed the call, “strongly urging the Iranian authorities to ensure transparency in the ongoing proceedings and to prioritize the protection of human life and rights.”

Growing support journalists, activists and public figures

Joining the large number of lawmakers and officials has been a broad array of journalists, authors, and public figures whose support has carried the cases to millions of people. 

The prominent Iranian activist Masih Alinejad raised concerns for political prisoners, including Baha’is, while former French Football World Cup champion, Lilian Thuram, prominent UK-based journalist, Maryam Moqaddam, award-winning author, Ari Honarvar, human rights activist, Minou Ghamari, Agence France-Presse journalist, Maryam Ishani Thompson, the Austrian public medical expert, Professor Siroos Mirzaei, human rights advocate, Ryma Sheermohammadi, Former Human Rights Watch Executive Director, Kenneth Roth, award-winning international journalist, Borzou Daragahi, American journalist, Yashar Ali, Iranian social media influencer, Sorayya Vahdatinia, internet media personality, Faranak Soleimani, award-winning journalist at ABC, Nassim Khadem, and Guardian journalist, Maryam Foumani, also joined the global chorus of support.

Leading human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Iran Human Rights, the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, HRANA News Agency, HÁWAR.help, the Iran Human Rights Society, Beyond the Wall, Protest Iran Official, and the Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran have added their voices to calls for Peyvand’s and Borna’s release, alongside other prominent advocates and voices.

A call for action

The joint appeal by Mark Ruffalo, Penn Badgley, and Rainn Wilson has brought the cases of Peyvand and Borna Naimi to audiences around the world, extending the call for Peyvand and Borna Naimi’s release beyond the halls of government and uniting people of conscience around a single demand: that these two men be freed.

“Iran tries to commit its crimes in the dark. Behind prison walls, in cells, to make prisoners feel alone, uncared-for and without a voice,” said Ms. Fahandej. “But the international community has spoken for them, raising their voice above the darkest pits in which they are imprisoned and tortured, and unitedly calling upon the Iranian government to release Payvand and Borna now and end its cruel and barbaric acts of persecution against innocent people.”

Background information on Peyvand

• Peyvand Naimi was arrested on January 8 on false charges of instigating unrest during protests in Iran and was taken to an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) detention center, a facility known for torture and mistreatment.
• Under duress, authorities extracted a forced confession, which was broadcast on state television on February 1. He was subsequently transferred to Kerman Prison. To date, no trial has been held, no sentencing issued, and no evidence presented to justify the charges against him.
• On February 28, authorities escalated their case with baseless allegations that Peyvand Naimi was involved in the deaths of three Basij security agents during the January 2026 protests—despite the fact that he was already in detention at the time of the alleged attack. He was also falsely accused of celebrating the death of Iran's former supreme leader, an event he had no knowledge of as a prisoner without access to communications.
• From mid-March, Peyvand Naimi endured ten days of constant torture, interrogation, and denial of food and water. His hands and feet were bound for 48 hours, he was tied to a wall, beaten repeatedly, subjected to psychological abuse, and forced to endure two mock executions—all in an effort to extract a false confession.
• Borna Naimi, Peyvand’s cousin, was arrested on March 1 at his workplace by six masked officers of the IRGC Intelligence Organization. He was handcuffed and taken to an IRGC detention centre—though his family received no word of his whereabouts or wellbeing for three days. Short phone calls then began but were cut after March 8 for a further week. Borna is an accomplished karate athlete with gold medals in both domestic and international competitions.
• After his arrest, Borna was accused of accompanying Peyvand and participating in the alleged murders of Basij officers. The charges are absurd and false. Peyvand’s January 8 detention occurred before the alleged incident, and Borna was at home at the time of the supposed crimes. Borna has faced at least two mock executions, electric shocks causing severe burns to his feet and legs, and other forms of torture. No trial has been held for him either.

For more information, please contact

• Simin Fahandej, Representative to the United Nations, Geneva, [email protected], +41227985400 (English & Persian)

• Rachel Bayani, Principal Representative to the United Nations, New York, [email protected], +19297870437 (English, French, German)