Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

* This article has been updated to reflect new information on the number of arrests in connection with the BIHE raids. GENEVA — A coordinated series of raids have been carried out on the homes of several Iranian Baha’is, active in a community initiative to provide a higher education program for young members who are [...]

On January 22, The New York Times published the following article, written by religion columnist Samuel G. Freedman, about the persecution of the Baha’i Faith in Iran from the perspective of a D.C.-area Baha’i whose brother, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, is among seven Baha’i leaders who are currently on trial in Tehran. From the article… In [...]

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 [...]

On July 9, 2009, Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia made the following statement, urging the Obama administration “to make human rights and religious freedom, including the persecuted Baha’is, an integral part of the dialogue” with Iran. Madam Speaker, May 14 marked the one-year anniversary of the imprisonment of the seven-member national committee of the Iranian [...]

On June 26, 2009, religion columnist Samuel G. Freedman of the New York Times wrote, “The Bahais have long served as the proverbial canaries in the coal mine of Iran’s theocracy.”

The New York Times published an article titled “Iran: 7 Bahais to Face Trial” in its World Briefing section.