Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

Eleven Baha’is charged with “conspiracy against national security” for operating an institute for higher education

Iranian authorities faced a deadline two months after the May 21st raids carried out on more than thirty Baha’i homes* connected to the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education. Under Iranian law, the authorities had to either formally charge defendants or set the prisoners free.

The Baha’i International Community just learned that charges have been laid and 11 of the 19 individuals originally detained in the raids will continue to be held in detention*. The remaining 8 individuals were released over time since the raids.

Update: check out the Facebook event for the call-in campaign! Invite your friends! There’s a map for that! Want to know which senators have already co-sponsored S.Res.80? Has your representative signed on yet to H.Res.134? Which officials received delegation visits on behalf of the Baha’is in Iran? Find answers at: http://iran.bahai.us/congressional-outreach-maps/ Congressional outreach campaign on [...]

From one group of academics to another, the Scholars for Peace in the Middle East board of directors is sticking up for the imprisoned faculty and staff of the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education in Iran. According to its website, Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) is an independent, not-for-profit, grass-roots organization of [...]

Arrests on the rise According to the latest reports, 103 Baha’is are currently behind bars because of their religious beliefs. This number has risen dramatically from the beginning of the year. Another nearly 100 Baha’is have received prison sentences and await appeal or summons to begin serving their terms.  An additional 160 Baha’is are free on bail but could [...]

Read statement on State Department website Persecution of Religious Minorities in Iran Victoria Nuland Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC July 6, 2011 We are dismayed over reports that the Iranian courts are requiring Youcef Nadarkhani to recant his Christian faith or face the death penalty for apostasy – a charge based on his [...]