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 [...]

Read on the Baha’i World News Service NEW YORK — As seven Baha’i leaders in Iran complete their third year in jail, the Baha’i International Community has confirmed that the two women amongst them have been transferred to another prison. The seven were all members of a national-level ad hoc group that helped attend to [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, May 5, 2011 Contact: Ginous Alford  | O: 202-833-8990 |  M: 202-643-1612 |  USBahaiMedia@usbnc.org **MEDIA ADVISORY** BELIEF BEHIND BARS: Lawmakers, performers to drum up support at Capitol Hill reception for Iran’s seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders Remarks from special guests: U.S. Senator Mark Kirk U.S. Representative Michael Grimm Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for [...]

The Baha’i International Community has described as “desperately cruel” the fact that one of Iran’s seven Baha’i leaders has been unable to attend the funeral of his own wife. 81 year old Mrs. Ashraf Khanjani – who was married to Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani for more than 50 years – died yesterday morning at the family [...]

Blogger Reza Aslan weighs in on how each individual can play a part in supporting the spread of human rights at this crucial time in a critical part of the world: As the Iranian regime continues to tighten the noose of oppression around the throats of all its citizens, one group of Iranians is being [...]

Today the Iranian-American journalist who spent 100-days imprisoned in Iran, again mentioned the persecution of the Baha’is of Iran in an op-ed published in The Washington Post on May 13. From the article… If the international community fails to condemn such atrocities, Iran’s regime will continue to trample on the basic rights of individuals, many [...]

The Baha’i World News Service–The Baha’i International Community has learned that there was a miscommunication as to the date of the trial of seven Iranian Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Tehran. A court session believed to have been scheduled for today is set for Monday, 12 April.

Baha’i World News Service – A third session of the court proceedings against seven imprisoned Iranian Baha’i leaders is scheduled for tomorrow, April 10,  in Tehran. It is unknown whether the hearing – scheduled in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court – will be open to families of the defendants and other observers. The first [...]

On Friday, April 9, American journalist Roxana Saberi mentioned the pending trial of two Iranian Baha’i women she met while imprisoned in Tehran, during an interview on CBS News’ Washington Unplugged. Her interview begins about 7 minutes into the following video; she mentions the Baha’is toward the end of her appearance. Watch CBS News Videos [...]

Iranian authorities have notified the lawyers of seven imprisoned Bahá’í leaders that the next session of their trial will be held on February 7, 2010, the Bahá’í International Community announced today. After 20 months in prison, with limited access to their attorneys, the defendants— Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid [...]

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 [...]

On January 11, 2010,  the U.S. Department of State issued a statement condemning the trial of seven Baha’i leaders in Tehran and indicating that Iran is responsible for the safety of all 48 Baha’is who are currently detained in prisons throughout Iran. Of the seven leaders, the statement asserts: These persons are entitled to due [...]

On Saturday, January 9, 2010, the Baha’i World News Service published the following article in response to Iran’s allegations, published in recent news reports, that “arms and ammunition were found in the homes of Baha’is who were arrested in Tehran last Sunday.” The Baha’i International Community today categorically rejected new allegations by the Iranian government [...]

In an article published Sept. 10, 2009, Julia Duin of The Washington Times mentioned seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders in an article about two Christian women who are also being detained for their religious beliefs in Tehran’s Evin prison. From the article: These women aren’t the only religious minority to suffer the wrath of Iran’s mullahs. [...]

WASHINGTON — Today, August 15, Mr. Hassan Haddad of Tehran’s prosecutor office confirmed that the trial of seven Baha’i leaders falsely accused of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic,” will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009. The Bahá’í International Community categorically denies all the charges, at least one of which [...]

The seven Baha’i leaders, with spouses, before their arrest in Spring 2008. Photo courtesy of Baha’i World News Service. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following last week’s show trial of post-election protesters in Iran, seven Baha’i leaders face yet another failure of legal due process as they prepare to stand trial Aug. 18, 2009, on a series [...]

Babylon & Beyond, a Los Angeles Times blog focusing on the Middle East, published the following article about Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi–one of seven Baha’i leaders currently waiting trial in Iran. Article excerpt: Iraj Kamalabadi of Rancho Cucamonga constantly worries about his sister Fariba Kamalabadi, who is sitting in Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison, nearly 7,600 miles [...]

From Baha’i World News Service: Iranian officials have reportedly told families of the seven Baha’i leaders currently held in Evin prison in Tehran that their trial has been delayed. No new trial date was given. Held for more than a year, the seven were reportedly to have been tried on Saturday, although this information, too, [...]

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, in response to a letter written by journalist Roxana Saberi, today issued a statement demanding the release of seven Baha’i leaders who are said to face trial July 11, 2009. Saberi was imprisoned in Tehran’s Evin prison, where the Baha’is are currently being held, for nearly four months [...]

On June 23, 2009, Human Rights Activists in Iran issued an “alarming update” on the status of seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned in Tehran’s Evin Prison. You can access an English translation at Iran Press Watch.