The Baha鈥檌 faith 鈥� with an interfaith credo 鈥� fits comfortably into the religious spectrum of most countries. In several Middle East nations, however, Baha鈥檌 followers face repression that is drawing criticism from human rights groups.
The abuse is most evident in Iran, which bans the faith and has been widely accused of , human rights advocates say. They also report systemic discrimination in Yemen, Qatar and Egypt.
Iran has been a driving force in the spread of anti-Baha鈥檌 repression in countries where it holds influence, advocates say 鈥� a plan first made public in a leaked 1991 government document. These include Yemen, where Iran backs Houthi rebels who control much of the country, and Qatar, where links include co-ownership of the .
鈥淭he sheer arsenal the Iranian government has expended to crush the Baha鈥檌s in every avenue of life has been astronomical,鈥� said Nazila Ghanea, an Oxford University law professor and U.N. Special Rapporteur on religious freedom.
鈥滻t has also extended its reach, time and again, beyond the border of Iran,鈥� she said.
Anti-Baha鈥檌 discrimination includes forced deportations and family separations, as well as denial of marriage licenses, public school enrollment and access to burial grounds.
In Qatar, the leader of the small Baha鈥檌 community has been detained since April. Remy Rowhani, 71, went on trial last month, charged with 鈥減romoting the ideology of a deviant sect鈥� on the country鈥檚 Baha鈥檌 social media account.
A far-flung faith
The Baha鈥檌 faith was founded in the 1860s by Baha鈥檜鈥檒lah, a Persian nobleman considered a prophet by his followers. He taught that all religions represent progressive stages in the revelation of God鈥檚 will, leading to the unity of all people and faiths.
There are no Baha鈥檌 clergy. Communities are organized through elected local spiritual assemblies.
From the faith鈥檚 earliest days, it was denounced by Shiite Muslim clerics in what is now Iran; they considered followers apostates. That repression continued after Iran鈥檚 1979 Islamic Revolution, when many Baha鈥檌 followers were executed or went missing.
There are less than 8 million believers worldwide, with the largest number in India. The faith is present in most countries.
Michael Page of Human Rights Watch described Iran as 鈥渁 guiding animus against Baha鈥檌s because it perceived them as antithetical to the regime鈥檚 own interpretation of Shia Islam.鈥�
鈥淭his is an authoritarian government that brutally cracks down on people who don鈥檛 agree with it,鈥� Page told The Associated Press. 鈥淭he hate speech directed at them is so at odds with the Baha鈥檌 faith tradition, it would feel laughable if the consequences weren鈥檛 so serious.鈥�
Not all Muslim countries are hostile. Saba Haddad, the Baha鈥檌 International Community鈥檚 representative to the U.N. in Geneva, cited , the United Arab Emirates and as welcoming.
鈥淲e are the measure of tolerance 鈥� for any government, any country,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have any political stance, we don鈥檛 interfere with politics, we don鈥檛 have a Baha鈥檌 country. It鈥檚 truly about ... tolerance and acceptance.鈥�
Baha鈥檌 leader faces Qatar trial
Rowhani has been detained since April 28 in what as a violation of religious freedom reflecting long-running discrimination against Baha鈥檌 believers. He faces up to three years in prison. His trial is recessed until Aug. 6.
Rowhani鈥檚 daughter, Noora Rowhani, who lives in Australia with her husband and 9-year-old daughter, said she hasn鈥檛 been able to speak to her father since a brief call before his arrest.
鈥淎s for why Qatar is doing this, I ask myself that every day,鈥� she told AP. 鈥淎 country that brands itself as a leader on the world stage, hosting global conferences and , cannot justify the quiet targeting of its citizens 鈥� just because they belong to a different faith.鈥�
Qatar鈥檚 International Media Office didn't respond to an AP email seeking comment about Rowhani鈥檚 case or accusations of systemic abuse of Baha鈥檌 followers.
Rowhani 鈥� former head of Qatar's Chamber of Commerce 鈥� was jailed twice before, accused of offenses like routine fundraising related to his leadership of Qatar's Baha'i National Assembly. The latest charge involves the sect鈥檚 X account, which contains posts about Qatari holidays and Baha鈥檌 writings.
鈥淭hese new charges highlight the lengths to which the authorities in Qatar are prepared to go to erase the Baha鈥檌s from their country,鈥� said lawyers Helena Kennedy and Steven Powles of 鈥� founded by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer 鈥� which is assisting in Rowhani鈥檚 defense.
Bias in Egypt and Yemen
Since 1960, Egypt鈥檚 government has denied legal recognition to its small Baha鈥檌 community.
This includes denying marriage licenses and birth certificates, barring children from public schools and restricting where Baha鈥檌 families can bury their dead.
The Baha鈥檌 International Community issued a in November decrying 鈥渋ntensification of the persecution.鈥�
Egypt鈥檚 Foreign Ministry didn't respond to AP queries about the accusations.
In Yemen, 100-plus Baha鈥檌 followers have been rebels, according to Amnesty International. Keyvan Ghaderi, 52, was imprisoned for four years on charges including spying for the U.S. and Israel. He was released in 2020 and deported without being allowed to see his wife and children.
Eventually, Ghaderi was granted a humanitarian visa to the U.S. He lives with his family in Salt Lake City.
Ghaderi attributed the Houthis鈥� animosity to fear of change.
鈥淭hey had this fear that we鈥檇 change ideas in Yemen, in the middle of civil war ... that we might change the narrative of young generations going to war,鈥� he said.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
David Crary, The Associated Press
