The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has declared the persecution of the Bahai minority in Iran since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 as a crime against humanity. The New York-based organization highlighted that Bahais, the largest non-Muslim minority in Iran, face persecution including arbitrary detention, property confiscation, denial of education and employment opportunities, and even denial of the right to a dignified funeral.
According to HRW, systematic repression by authorities over decades constitutes a crime against humanity of persecution, as per the statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This persecution, HRW argues, involves the deliberate and severe denial of fundamental rights based on national, religious, or ethnic grounds.
Despite variations in severity over time, HRW asserts that the persecution of Bahais has consistently impacted virtually every aspect of their lives, both publicly and privately. The Iranian government’s official policy and laws codify the repression of minorities, particularly targeting adherents of the Bahai faith.
Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at HRW, emphasized that Iranian authorities deprive Bahais of their fundamental rights solely based on their faith, calling for increased international pressure to end this crime against humanity.
The declaration by HRW marks the first time a reputable international organization has categorized Iran’s treatment of Bahais as a crime against humanity. Unlike other minority groups, Bahais are not granted reserved parliamentary seats or recognition of their faith by the Iranian constitution.
Despite the exact number of Bahais in Iran is unknown, it is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. The Bahai faith, originating in Iran in the early 1800s, faces severe restrictions in Iran, with adherents not allowed to freely practice their religion even in private.
HRW notes that Bahais are subject to periodic state-backed campaigns of incitement to hatred, with authorities raiding their homes, confiscating possessions, and arresting or summoning them for questioning. Prominent members of the Bahai community, such as Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, have faced imprisonment, with restrictions extending to education, employment, and even burial rights after death.
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