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United Nations

UN Report Highlights Persecution of Baha'is in Iran as Grave Human Rights Concern

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Baha'is in India's Mumbai have drawn attention to the relentless persecution of the community in Iran, the birthplace of the faith. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has included the persecution of Baha'is in Iran as one of the world's most pressing human rights concerns in his latest report on intolerance and violence based on religion or belief. The report emphasizes that the persecution of Baha'is is a systematic and long-standing policy of religious repression that demands urgent international attention.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN report highlights that Baha'is in Iran face arbitrary arrests, imprisonment, and restrictions on access to education and livelihoods solely for their religious beliefs.
  • The Iranian government has repeatedly invoked vague charges to criminalize peaceful Baha'i community activities, severely curtailing their rights to manifest their religion or belief.
  • The report is significant as it reflects a consensus view at the highest level of the international community and undermines the Iranian government's denials of human rights violations.
  • The Baha'i International Community representative, Simin Fahandej, emphasized that the UN secretary-general's report joins other international organizations, including the UN fact-finding mission, in recognizing the intensifying persecution of Baha'is in Iran.
  • Baha'i women have been disproportionately targeted since the 2022 uprising, as reported by the UN fact-finding mission.

Statistics:

  • The UN report emphasizes that the persecution of Baha'is in Iran is a longstanding and systematic policy.
  • The report highlights that Baha'is face arbitrary arrests, with no specific number provided.
  • The restrictions on access to education and livelihoods for Baha'is in Iran are not quantified in the report.

Sources:

  • United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres

+ Global report on intolerance and violence based on religion or belief (UN Report)

  • Baha'is in India's Mumbai

+ Press release highlighting the persecution of Baha'is in Iran

  • Simin Fahandej, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the UN in Geneva

+ Statement on the UN secretary-general's report

  • UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran

+ Report on the targeting of Baha'i women

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