Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran

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 [...]

U.S. Representative Mark Kirk mentioned the Baha’is of Iran during remarks at the U.S. Institute of Peace on November 4. After reading the names of 10 Iranian Baha’is currently imprisoned for their beliefs, Rep. Kirk said, I say their names out loud today because no matter how hard the Iranian regime tries to silence these [...]

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 Amnesty International 2009 human rights report chronicles the persecution of Baha’is in Iran and Egypt during 2008.

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a statement on May 14, 2009, marking the anniversary of the arrest and detention last year of six Baha’i leaders in Iran, who, with another arrested two months earlier, remain in custody.

The United Kingdom has reiterated its concern for seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Iran on the first anniversary of their detention in the following statement: UK government renews call for release of detained Baha’is

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran issued a statement titled “Baha’i Leaders Remain Unjustly Detained After One Year” on the anniversary of the detention of the Baha’i leaders in Iran.

openDemocracy published an article titled “Iran: a faith on trial” by Bernd Kaussler on April 23, 2009, about the persecution of the Iranian Baha’i community.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released its 2009 annual report today. The persecution of the Baha’is in Iran, and in other countries, is referenced in a number of sections. Access a video of the release of the report at the National Press Club

The Baha’i International Community posted some new information today on its “Iran Update” page about the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran.  The new information is italicized.

On February 4, Iranian.com published an open letter signed by more than 40 Iranian intellectuals apologizing for their society’s treatment of the Baha’is over the past 150 years.  It is titled “We are ashamed!” 

The Daily Utah Chronicle published an article, “From Iran to Utah: The Passion for Study Burns”, about the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran, and the denial of education to Baha’i students.  They interviewed an Iranian Baha’i student who is now a sophomore at the University of Utah.

Herb Denenberg of The Bulletin, Philadelphia’s Family Newspaper, has written an article about the persecution of Baha’is in Iran. You can access the article here.

At several public appearances during his recent visit to the United States, the president of Iran was asked pointedly about his country’s persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran.