The Baha’i International Community (BIC) is appalled at the baseless and unjust imprisonment of senior Baha'i dignitary Remy Rowhani at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar on 23 December.

Remy Rowhani is a highly respected Qatari citizen who has served his country with distinction for decades—most recently as Director of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Middle East and North Africa regional office.

In April 2021, a Qatari court framed Mr. Rowhani in a prejudicial case judged in absentia. The ruling was confirmed in May 2022 by an appeals court. In response to international concern, Qatari officials had given assurances that Mr. Rowhani’s one-month prison sentence and $13,700 fine would not be enforced, and he had been assured just last week that he was free to travel. Last week’s actions mark an arbitrary escalation after decades of discrimination against the Baha’is in Qatar merely on account of their religion.

For over eight years, Mr. Rowhani has served as chairperson of the National Assembly of the Baha’is of Qatar, a pastoral voluntary role addressing the spiritual and administrative needs of the Baha’i religious community—which has existed in Qatar for over 80 years. His detention is emblematic of the broader pattern of discrimination faced by Baha’i community members in Qatar.

Over the eight decades the Baha’i community has existed in Qatar, the national Baha’i community sought to engage government authorities to address the systemic discrimination marshalled against it, but to no avail.

Once national efforts were exhausted, the BIC was obliged to highlight the relentless and concerted discrimination faced by the community. Baha’is in Qatar have faced significant hardships including the methodical termination of residency permits, denial of certificates of good conduct, sudden termination of residency, and unjust restrictions on family reunification for Baha’is. These measures risk the community’s total erasure from Qatar, yet the government has failed to even offer Baha’is a governmental intermediary with whom they can raise concerns.

Encouraging developments in the region reflect a broader embrace of coexistence, diversity, and social cohesion. Neighboring countries have taken meaningful steps to recognize and integrate religious minorities, including Baha’is, into their societies. What is happening to the Baha’is in Qatar stands in stark contrast to this positive trend and contradicts public statements by Qatari leadership, including His Highness the Emir, about promoting diversity and inclusion.

In addition to calling for the immediate release of Mr. Remy Rowhani, the BIC urges the Qatari authorities to address the systemic discrimination targeted at the Baha’is in that country over decades.

The BIC remains ready to support and collaborate with the authorities to foster an environment of mutual understanding and progress.

Background

On 23 December 2024, Mr. Remy Rowhani, a prominent Qatari citizen, former Director of the International Chamber of Commerce’s MENA regional office and chairperson of the Assembly of the Baha’is of Qatar, was detained at Doha International Airport while attempting to travel for a short holiday.

Despite having received verbal assurances from authorities that he was free to travel, Mr. Rowhani was arrested and placed in unsanitary detention conditions.

The baseless case against Mr. Rowhani

Mr. Rowhani’s case highlights decades of systemic discrimination against the Baha’i community in Qatar. Despite overseeing voluntary financial contributions from Baha’is to the community, with the Qatari authorities’ knowledge, Mr. Rowhani was charged in 2021 with collecting funds without a permit. His actions were not illegal under Qatari law at the time and no evidence was provided for the charges. Initially sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of $27,000, on appeal in 2022 his sentence was later reduced to one month in prison and a fine of $13,700.

After receiving verbal assurances via a third party that the sentence would not be enforced, in late 2024, Mr. Rowhani discovered that his case had been reopened and his access to key government services was restricted. He had been cleared to travel by airport authorities but, on 23 December 2024, he was detained and forced to begin his prison sentence.

The case and sentence against Mr. Rowhani are spurious. His imprisonment now is arbitrary, vindictive, and undignified, and Mr. Rowhani has been framed only for his religious beliefs and for discharging his community responsibilities.

Mr. Rowhani’s pastoral role in the Baha’i community

For over eight years, Mr. Rowhani has served as chairperson of the Assembly of the Baha’is of Qatar, the elected governing institution of the Baha'i community in Qatar. His role is pastoral and addresses only the spiritual and administrative needs of the Baha’i religious community—which has existed in Qatar for over 80 years. His detainment is emblematic of the broader pattern of discrimination faced by Baha'i community members in Qatar.

Government discrimination against the Baha’i community in Qatar

Over the eight decades the Baha’i community has existed in Qatar, it has sought to engage government authorities to address systemic challenges such as discrimination, but to no avail. The BIC has long highlighted the relentless and concerted discrimination faced by the community. Baha’is in Qatar are denied formal recognition, resulting in significant hardships including the termination of residency permits, denial of certificates of good conduct, sudden refusals of residency, and unjust restrictions on family reunification. These measures risk the community’s total erasure from Qatar.

For more information please contact

• Bani Dugal, Principal Representative, New York, [email protected] +19143293020 (English)

• Saba Haddad, Representative, Geneva, [email protected], ‭+41783082219 (English & Arabic)