The Baha'i faith, a global but minority religion founded in the 1860s by Baha'u'llah, a Persian nobleman, faces significant repression in several Middle Eastern countries, particularly Iran. This faith adheres to an interfaith credo emphasizing the unity of all people and faiths. Despite having around 8 million followers worldwide, the Baha'is, especially in Iran, experience systemic discrimination and persecution, including forced deportations and denial of basic rights such as marriage licenses and public school enrollment.
Iran, which openly bans the Baha'i faith, is a central figure in the repression of Baha'is in other countries, as highlighted in a 1991 leaked government document. Countries affected by this influence include Yemen, where Iran supports the Houthi rebels, and Qatar, linked through shared interests in natural gas production. Nazila Ghanea, an Oxford University law professor and U.N. Special Rapporteur on religious freedom, stated that Iran's extensive efforts to suppress the Baha'is in all aspects of life are a significant concern.
In Qatar, the situation is particularly dire, with Remy Rowhani, the leader of the relatively small Baha'i community, having been detained since April 2023. He faces trial on charges of "promoting the ideology of a deviant sect" via the community's social media platform. Rowhani's daughter, who resides in Australia, expressed her frustration over her father's unjust detention, questioning how a nation promoting itself as a global leader could silence its citizens based on their faith.
The Baha'i faith operates without clergy and is governed by locally elected spiritual assemblies. Since its inception, it has faced opposition from Shiite Muslim clerics in Iran, who considered its followers apostates. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, many Baha'is were executed or went missing, exacerbating the repression faced by the community.
Human Rights Watch's Michael Page highlighted Iran's animosity towards Baha'is, perceiving them as a threat to its interpretation of Shia Islam. He noted that the discrimination against Baha'is contradicts the faith's core principles and results in severe consequences for its adherents.
Not all Islamic nations are hostile towards the Baha'i community. Saba Haddad, representing the Baha'i International Community at the U.N., pointed to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Tunisia as positive examples of coexistence. She emphasized that the Baha'i faith's approach is one of tolerance and acceptance, without interference in politics.
In addition to the issues in Qatar, the Baha'i community in Egypt has been denied legal recognition since 1960, leading to restrictions on marriage licenses, birth certificates, and access to public education. The Baha'i International Community has noted an intensification of persecution in Egypt, and the government has not addressed these allegations. Likewise, in Yemen, over 100 Baha'i followers have been detained by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, showcasing the regional implications of Iran's influence.
Keyvan Ghaderi, a former Baha'i prisoner in Yemen, shared that the Houthis' hostility stems from a fear of change and the Baha'i message potentially altering the narrative among the youth during the ongoing conflict. Despite facing adversity, Baha'is around the world continue to advocate for their rights and uphold their principles of unity and acceptance.
