On the 20th of June, Yemeni authorities detained six Baha’is (2 Yemeni nationals, 3 Iranians and an Iraqi) under suspicion of engaging in proselytizing. The Yemeni nationals were subsequently released, while the remaining faced the grave risk of deportation. Yemen is a signatory of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which bans the deportation of [...]

At-Tagammu, a Yemeni newspaper published by the Yemeni Unitary Congregation party, recently reported on the threats facing Yemen’s small Baha’i community following the arrest of 6 Baha’is in June. The newspaper highlighted the propagandist attempts inciting hatred against the community and accused extremist fundamentalists for the oppression. Below is our translation of the article. After [...]

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 [...]

Several days ago, the Associated Press reported that the Yemeni authorities detained six Iranian Baha’is, for allegedly belonging to a rebel group. The news came as surprising to many; Yemen had provided a relatively safer haven for Baha’is to freely practise their faith. We contacted HOOD, Yemen’s priemer human rights NGO, requesting more information and [...]

According to the Associated Press (via The Jerusalem Post), six Iranian followers of the Baha’i faith have been detained in Yemen. Although Baha’is are known to not engage in politics, a Yemeni security official alleged the arrested Baha’is were members of a rebel group. Unfortunately, not much information is currently available regarding the detainees, but [...]