The Baha’i community is facing increasing government crackdowns in Qatar and Iran. Human rights groups have documented the arbitrary arrests, property confiscations, and severe sentencing of Baha’is in these nations. Similar patterns of persecution are also evident in Yemen, Bahrain, and Egypt.
The Baha’i faith, a religious movement founded in the 1860s, promotes the unity of all religions and the oneness of humanity. In many Muslim countries, the Baha’i faith is met with skepticism, in part due to the Baha’i belief in a Persian founder, contrasting with Islam’s view of Muhammad as the final prophet.
In Qatar, the government’s actions include expelling Baha’is, denying permission for the reconstruction of Baha’i cemeteries, and refusing to acknowledge Baha’i marriage certificates. Baha’i leaders face imprisonment for practicing their faith.
A significant case involves Remi Rohani, a prominent Baha’i figure in Qatar. Rohani, 71, received a five-year prison sentence for disseminating Baha’i greetings and promoting Baha’i beliefs on social media. The court alleged he challenged Islamic tenets.
Rohani was also accused of unlawfully gathering and transferring funds abroad, a matter the government was purportedly aware of. His daughter, who lives in Australia, has condemned the verdict as heartbreaking.
The UN and human rights organizations have stated that Qatar’s actions violate religious freedom, a right protected by the Qatari constitution. Despite these guarantees, the Baha’i community continues to be targeted.
The situation is more dire in Iran, where Baha’is are being arrested without any specific charges. Keyhan Maghsoudi has been in jail in Urmia since June. Armaghan Yazdani’s detention in Shiraz has been extended, and Roxana Vojdani is under house arrest for two years.
In Kerman, 64-year-old Shahram Fallah was arrested without any stated reasons. In Isfahan, government agents raided the homes and businesses of 10 Baha’i families. In Hamadan, six Baha’i women were sentenced, resulting in a combined sentence of 39 years. In Tehran, Baha’i artist Paria Marandi was accused of protesting against the government and religious defamation.
Education also poses challenges. Baha’i students in Iran are denied admission to universities, with their results listed as being reviewed, which blocks their access to higher education. Last year, 129 Baha’i students suffered the same fate. It is reported that a secret government policy systematically excludes Baha’i students.
Organizations like the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have issued warnings that the persecution of the Baha’i community constitutes a violation of religious freedom. These events reveal that Baha’is in Qatar and Iran are being punished solely because of their religious beliefs, which is viewed as a violation of basic human rights.