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Baha'i

This undated photo provided by the family in July 2026 shows Mandana Sotoudeh, left, and her sister Mahsa Sotoudeh. (Courtesy Roya Basiri via AP)
July 13, 2026, 3:50 pm
Iran increasingly scapegoats Baha’i minority, including accusing members of spying for Israel
Rights groups say anti-government protests, war with US and Israel prompted Islamic Republic to publicly incite against the faith, arrest dozens of its members, some without charge
By FATMA KHALED
Members of the Baha'i religion demonstrate in Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach on June 19, 2011 asking Iranian authorities to release seven Baha'i prisoners accused of spying for Israel and sentenced to 20 years in jail. (ANA CAROLINA FERNANDES / AFP)
May 8, 2026, 5:58 pm
Iran’s Baha’i minority community facing increasing arrests, torture and execution fears
Rights groups, relatives warn Tehran intensifying persecution of group amid regional tensions; Amnesty says regime falsely accusing Baha’is as spies for Israel
By Stuart Williams
This circa 2017 photo provided by his family shows Remy Rowhani, the head of the National Spiritual Assembly that governs Baha’i affairs in Qatar. (Family photo via AP)
August 14, 2025, 3:53 pm
Qatar sentences Baha’i leader to 5 years over social media posts
Country’s Supreme Judiciary Council claims Remy Rowhani ‘cast doubt on the foundations of the Islamic religion,’ weeks after experts sounded alarm over treatment of minority
By David Crary
The Baha'i temple in the northern Israeli city of Haifa is seen at night on February 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File)
July 4, 2025, 7:49 pm
Small Baha’i faith faces persecution across Middle East and especially in Iran
Islamic Republic has been driving force in anti-Baha’i repression, which includes forced deportations, family separations, denial of marriage licenses and public school enrollment
By David Crary
Three women walk along the Corniche at dusk, with the Doha skyline in the background, in Doha, Qatar, May 15, 2025. (Fatima Shbair/AP)
May 25, 2025, 2:44 pm
Rights group accuses Qatar of decades of ‘intimidation’ against Baha’i minority
Human Rights Watch says discrimination and abuse has gone on for decades, posing a threat to existence of community in the Gulf state
By AFP
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Nasser Kanaani speaks during a press conference in the capital Tehran on December 5, 2022. (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP)
July 24, 2024, 3:22 pm
Iran condemns UN expert report on 1980s ‘atrocity crimes’
Iranian spokesman says detailed report by special rapporteur Javaid Rehman, alleging ‘crimes against humanity of murder and extermination as well as genocide,’ is ‘fake news’
By AFP
The newly renovated Bahai Shrine of the Bab is seen in Haifa, April 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
March 22, 2024, 4:17 pm
In Iran, Baha’i minority faces persecution even after death
Grave desecrations represent a new attack against Iran’s biggest non-Muslim religious minority
By Stuart Williams
Illustrative: The Baha'i Gardens, in Haifa, March 30, 2020. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
August 16, 2023, 8:48 am
Iran arrests dozens of Baha’is, including 90-year-old, in fresh crackdown
Advocacy group says recent weeks have seen 180 incidents of persecution against members of faith, which is shunned in Islamic Republic
By AFP
Illustrative: Iranian police in Tehran, Iran, August 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
August 14, 2023, 12:02 pm
Iran arrests 9 members of Baha’i faith on smuggling charges
Group is shunned in Islamic Republic, which persecutes its members; officials say suspects were smuggling medicine, laundering money
By AP
Illustrative: Members of the Baha'i faith protest outside a state security court during a hearing in the case of a fellow Baha'i man suspected of contacts with Israel and charged with seeking to establish a base for the community in Yemen, in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, April 3, 2016. (AP/Hani Mohammed)
December 12, 2022, 6:08 am
Iran throws leading Bahai activists back in jail for 10 years each
Few details on national security charges against two women representing faith regularly accused of spying for Israel; sentences handed down after 1-hour trial, community says
By AFP
View of the Bahai gardens, located on Mount Carmel, in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. (Mendy Hechtman/FLASH90)
September 4, 2022, 8:15 am
Iran claims arrested Baha’i members were spying for Israel
Officials says two of 14 detainees were trained at Baha’i center in Haifa, formed network in region; religious group says they were studying social causes
By ToI Staff
The Bahai shrine in the religion's Haifa-based world center. (Shmuel Bar-Am)
September 3, 2022, 10:07 am
Iran said to arrest 14 more Baha’i as part of recent crackdown
Group says the members of the religious minority were detained while ‘studying and discussing together the role of education in social progress’
By ToI Staff
A home the Baha'i International Community says was destroyed by Iranian authorities seen in footage released on August 3, 2022. (Screenshot)
August 25, 2022, 1:05 pm
Amnesty: Iran carrying out ‘despicable onslaught’ against Baha’i minority
Intelligence authorities regularly arrest adherents and confiscate property; Iran says some Baha’is engage in espionage on behalf of Israel
By Ash Obel
A home the Baha'i International Community says was destroyed by Iranian authorities seen in footage released on August 3, 2022. (Screenshot)
August 4, 2022, 12:21 pm
Baha’i UN envoy: Iran carrying out ‘systematic onslaught’ against minority community
Iranian authorities arrest dozens of members of religious group, charging some with spying for Israel; also raid village and destroy homes
By Luke Tress
The newly renovated Bahai Shrine of the Bab is seen in Haifa, April 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
August 2, 2022, 2:57 pm
Baha’i say Iran stepping up persecution of minority faith members
A day after several Baha’is were arrested on charges of spying for Israel, representative says Tehran carrying out fresh house demolitions, raids and arrests
By ToI Staff and AP
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