According to the Baha’i World News Service, the six Baha’is arrested in Yemen – 3 Iranians, 2 Yemenis and an Iraqi – were arrested on a nightly raid on the 20th of June, and held under suspicion of ‘proselytizing’, a charge which the Baha’is deny. Although the two Yemeni nationals have been freed, the remaining four face the risk of deportation.

If deported, the Iranian nationals will undoubtedly not receive a warm welcome in their native country, where arbitrary arrests, arson and torture are threats Baha’is must face.

Regardless of whether or not the Baha’is were engaged in proselytizing, criminalizing the act in itself is absurd and constitutes an abuse against human rights.

Just as we Muslims value being able to share our religion with others, we should grant all faiths the right to share theirs with us.