Reza Fani-Yazdi, an Iranian-American human rights activist, recently published an essay urging Muslims to speak out on behalf of the Baha’i minority. The eloquent essay set the example of two prominent Iranians – Ayatollah Montazeri and Shirin Ebadi – who were willing to brave the risks and defend the Baha’is of Iran. The essay [...]

by Ahmad Batebi
04-Sep-2008

Ahmad Batebi (b. 1977) came to international notice through his appearance on the 17 July, 1999, cover of The Economist magazine, holding up a shirt splattered with the blood of a fellow protester. This photo, which has been called “an icon for Iran’s student reform movement”, was taken during the Iranian student protests [...]

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 [...]

Following the baseless accusations thrown by Tehran’s deputy prosecutor, in which he alleged that the 7 arrested Baha’i leaders forged links with Israel, Shirin Ebadi – the famed lawyer, human rights activist and Nobel Laureate – made a brave decision to defend them before court. Shirin Ebadi has long been a thorn at the side [...]

According to “The Egyptian Today,” a prominent newspaper in Egypt, schools in Cairo refused enrollment of Baha’i students after having received instructions not to accept applicants who are neither Muslim nor Christian.
Parents have filed a complaint with the Ministry of Education, but have yet to receive a response from any relevant officials. The deadline [...]

In 1925, Egypt became the first Muslim-majority country to recognize the Baha’i faith as an independent religion. However, almost 80 years later, Baha’is in Egypt continue to face heinous discrimination, due to their failure to obtain identity cards. Identity cards are the key towards gaining access to education, health care, and economic opportunities. Without them, [...]

Imagine an Iran where Baha’is are free to practise their faith. Imagine an Iran where Baha’is proudly proclaim their identity, without fear of retribution. Imagine an Iran where the National Spiritual Assembly is an active entity in leading the country towards progress. Imagine an Iran where the government actively seeks to protect Baha’i cemeteries and [...]

On the 27th of June, 1980, Bahar Tahzib’s father was executed in Iran for no other than being a Baha’i. This wasn’t an isolated incident, but a part of a wide and systemic crackdown on the country’s peaceful Baha’i community in the wake of the Islamic Revolution.
Tahzib’s family finds itself once again reliving the [...]

The situation of the Baha’i community in Iran is critical, as expressed in this urgent message from the Freedom to Believe Foundation:
Statement on Critical Situation of the Baha’i Community in Iran
The week of May 12th has been one of great importance to the international Baha’i Community. Friends from countries and territories all over the [...]

In a breakthrough verdict, Cairo’s Administrative Court issued a ruling to allow Baha’is to leave their religious affiliation field blank on official documents. This in effect would allow them access to education, health care and allow them to enjoy their rights as citizens.
The verdicts were handed down in the cases of the teenage twins Imad [...]