Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

On February 14, 2010, English-language news outlets, including the Associated Press, Reuters and Voice of America, reported that at least five more Baha’is have been arrested in Iran. This follows the arrest of 13 Iranian Baha’is on January 3; ten of whom remain in prison. There are currently around 60 Baha’is in prison throughout Iran, [...]

The Baha’i International Community has issued a statement condemning the trial of 16 individuals in Iran on January 30 as a “violation of all internationally accepted standards of legal due process.” The statement highlights the lack of proper legal representation for the defendants and the use of unreliable “confessions” in the trial. One of the [...]

In an Associated Press article published January 28 in the Washington Post, Iranian prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi reportedly announced that a group of post-election detainees, including an unknown number of Baha’is, would go on trial Saturday, January 30. From the article: He said the trial will demonstrate the role of “leftists, Bahais and those who [...]

The following is an update from the Baha’i World News Service regarding the trial of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran, which commenced on January 12, 2010. The trial of seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders began today in Iran. Initial reports indicate that the trial is marked by numerous violations of legal due process. “We understand that [...]

The Associated Press reported today that authorities have ordered Iran’s largest-circulation newspaper, Hamshahri, to close after it published an advertisement containing a photograph of a Baha’i temple. The AP wire story provided an overview of the ongoing persecution of Baha’is in Iran, including mention of the seven Baha’i leaders who have yet to face trial [...]

Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have called for the release of seven Baha’i leaders who may face trial tomorrow, July 11, 2009, in Tehran. Ms. Saberi stated, in a letter to the Commission, The seven Baha’is, along with at least 20 other Baha’is imprisoned across Iran, are [...]

The European Union is “very worried” about the deterioration of religious freedom in Iran. The Associated Press posted a an article titled “EU worried about freedom of religion in Iran”.

The Associated Press posted an article titled “Baha’is Accuse Iran of Discrimination”

The International Herald & Tribune picked up an article titled “Baha’is accuse Iran of Religious Bias, Say Community Leaders Unfairly Detained” from the Associated Press.