BRUSSELS – In an unprecedented display of solidarity, 125 Members of the European Parliament and national parliaments across Europe have endorsed a statement by United Nations Special Rapporteurs and experts, condemning the escalating persecution of Bahá’í women in Iran. This marks a significant step in holding the Iranian government accountable for its systematic targeting of religious and gender minorities.
The United Nations press release published on December 23, 2024, highlights the increasing discrimination faced by Bahá’í women, who endure persecution both for their faith and their gender. The UN experts described this escalation as particularly alarming given the broader crackdown on women’s rights in Iran.
“In the larger context of the targeting of women in Iran and the challenges with gender equality, this dramatic rise in persecution against Bahá’í women is an alarming escalation,” the UN experts stated.
European Parliament Urges Immediate Action
The European parliamentarians echoed the concerns of the UN, issuing a statement emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
“We echo the statement of UN Rapporteurs and Experts who have expressed ‘serious concern at what appears to be an increase in systematic targeting of Iranian women belonging to the Bahá’í religious minority throughout the country,’” they declared.
This statement aligns with recent European Parliament resolutions that condemn Iran’s systematic persecution of the Bahá’í community. The urgency resolution passed on January 23, 2025, follows an earlier resolution in November 2024 that referenced a 1991 memorandum signed by Iran’s Supreme Leader outlining measures to “block the progress and development” of Bahá’ís in the country.
The Reality of Bahá’í Women’s Persecution
According to the UN experts, Bahá’í women are primary targets of state-sanctioned repression, enduring arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, home raids, property confiscation, and restrictions on education. The persecution intensified significantly following the nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Jina Amini in late 2022. Currently, two-thirds of all Bahá’ís targeted in Iran are women.
The increasing hostility towards Bahá’ís coincides with Iran’s broader efforts to criminalize dissent among women. In recent months, Iranian women have faced harsher penalties for defying morality laws, with some at risk of the death penalty for refusing to comply with hijab mandates.
Global Calls for Accountability
Rachel Bayani, Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the European institutions in Brussels, praised the growing international support.
“The solidarity of these MEPs and MPs follows a similar initiative just six months ago—demonstrating that concern for Bahá’ís in Iran and Bahá’í women is rising as the Iranian government increases its persecution of these innocent people,” Bayani said (bic.org).
Additionally, Human Rights Watch has classified the Iranian government’s actions against Bahá’ís as the crime against humanity of persecution, highlighting in its report The Boot on My Neck that discriminatory policies and laws are used to systematically marginalize the Bahá’í community.
As the international community increases its scrutiny, pressure is mounting on Iranian authorities to cease their persecution of the Bahá’í minority. Yet, for the Bahá’í women in Iran—who face oppression on multiple fronts—justice remains elusive.
“The only way forward is to end the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran—and to respect the rights of all Iranians of every background,” Bayani added.
We acknowledge The European Times for the information.
