Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

In an open letter addressed to Iran’s representative to the UN, Mohammad Khazaee, 48 medical school deans and senior vice-presidents, who “believe that education is an inherent human right,” called for the release of educators associated with the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), which was set up to provide university-level studies for young Baha’is denied their right to education.

The UN General Assembly Third Committee today voted in favor of a resolution that condemned Iran for its “serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations.” The resolution – which is expected to be confirmed by the full Assembly in December – also requests that the UN Secretary General issue a report on human rights in Iran again next year.

There is much to be done for humanity to be alerted to what is going on inside Iran and to be awakened to the appalling memory of what can occur when we fail to act against state-sponsored campaigns of hatred.

Attacks such as these, against the rights of citizens to organize and be educated in freedom, can no longer be tolerated. We call upon the Iranian government not only to cease its persecution of Bahá’ís, but to provide, and promote, education for all.

The release of an open letter from two Nobel Peace Prize winners regarding the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education coincided with the first round of trials for imprisoned staff members of the beleaugured Institute. Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta called for an end to education discrimination in Iran in a [...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has named Iran among eight “Countries of Particular Concern” in relation to its repression of religious minorities. At the launch of the State Department’s Annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom, Secretary Clinton highlighted those countries whose governments engage in – or tolerate – “particularly [...]

The Baha’i International Community released Saturday an open letter to Iran’s minister for higher education, calling for an end to “the unjust and oppressive practices” that obstruct access to university for Baha’is and other young Iranians. Read the letter in English Read the letter in Persian The five-page letter addressed to Kamran Daneshjoo, Iran’s Minister [...]

“While Iran’s leaders hypocritally claim to promote tolerance, they continue to detain, imprison, harass, and abuse those who simply wish to worship the faith of their choosing.” — U.S. Department of State spokeswoman Victoria Nuland Read entire editorial here. Excerpt Earlier this month, Iranian authorities reportedly refused to allow a Baha’i family to bury a [...]

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.

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 [...]

U.S. news coverage of Iran’s attack on Baha’i educators reveals stark contrast to spring graduation season As worldwide outrage gathers in response to the recent raids and sweeping arrests of Baha’i Institute for Higher Education faculty and administrators, the reaction in many U.S. news reports and blogs has been one of trying to relate to [...]

Iran’s beleaguered Baha’i community has again received the unqualified support of 16-term Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf, co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Following the arrests of more than a dozen faculty and administrators of a peaceful education program for Baha’i students shunned by Iranian universities, Rep. Wolf made these remarks on the House [...]

ROUND-UP: A congressman’s website blogpost, a senator’s thoughtful letter and a prominently placed op-ed article in a metro daily newspaper—these are the latest examples of the positive outcomes of the nationwide effort by the U.S. Baha’i Community to raise awareness of the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran. Also, check out S.Res.80 and H.Res.134 for updates [...]

Dr. Cornel West is a philosopher and Princeton professor of African American Studies and Religion and a staunch defender of rights and freedoms for all people. He learned about the Baha’i Faith through his race unity work, befriending Baha’is such as jazz maestro Dizzy Gillespie. Professor West recently welcomed a relative of an imprisoned Iranian [...]

The count of Iranian Baha’is currently in prison because of their religion has climbed in recent weeks to 79, according to an update from the Baha’i World News Service released on March 20, up from 69 prisoners recorded in February. On the same day, U.S. President Barack Obama issued his annual Naw Ruz greeting to the people [...]

Amidst a series of public statements by human rights groups supporting the seven imprisoned members of the former Iranian Baha’i leadership group, Amnesty International USA has rallied its members to send greetings cards to the prisoners for the forthcoming Persian new year.   According to the Baha’i World News Service, the global support continues as Mahvash Sabet – [...]

In a public statement marking International Women’s Day, Amnesty International urges Iranian authorities “to release immediately all women detained arbitrarily in Iran, including political activists, rights defenders and members of religious and ethnic minorities.” The statement decries the unjust imprisonment by the Iranian government of innocent women who simply “wish to see greater respect for [...]

After meeting with a delegation of her Baha’i constituents, U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney from New York’s 14th District released a statement on March 1 expressing concern about the treatment of Baha’is in Iran. The delegation requested the meeting with Congresswoman Maloney to consult with her about the unjust sentencing of the former Baha’i leadership group [...]