Latest news with #Baha'is
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HRW accuses Qatar of discriminating against Baha'i minority
Human Rights Watch on Sunday (May 25, 2025) accused Qatar of discriminating against the Baha'i religious minority, citing arbitrary detentions and warning of a threat to the community's survival in the Gulf state. "The Baha'i community of Qatar has endured decades of government discrimination and intimidation, and authorities have consistently ignored community leaders' repeated efforts to engage the government in dialogue and seek redress," said Michael Page, HRW's deputy Middle East director. "This state-sponsored discrimination poses a threat to the very existence of the Baha'i community of Qatar," he said in a statement. The Baha'i faith, whose global headquarters is in Israel, claims more than seven million followers worldwide. It is based on the teachings of Bahaullah, who was born in Iran in 1817 and is considered the prophet and founder of their monotheistic faith. Between 2003 and 2025, Qatar "deported as many as 14 members of the group for no apparent reason other than individuals belonging to the Baha'i faith", HRW said. It cited the case of an Iranian Baha'i born in Qatar who was forced to leave in March 2025 under threat of expulsion for "disrupting public order", without a written explanation. The New York-based rights group also mentioned Remy Rowhani, arrested and detained on April 28 over posts from an X account linked to the Baha'i community, under Qatar's cybercrime law. Mr. Rowhani, chair of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Qatar, had already been released in January 2025 after serving a one-month prison sentence, HRW added. The group said Baha'is had also faced job rejections and denial of official documents.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Qatari Baha'i Dignitary Arrested In Doha On False Allegations Inspired By Iran Persecution
GENEVA—7 May 2025—The Baha'i International Community (BIC) is alarmed by the recent arrest and detention of Mr. Remy Rowhani, a senior Baha'i dignitary and respected Qatari citizen, in Doha on 28 April. Mr. Rowhani was summoned to the Ministry of Interior Criminal Investigation Department for questioning. He was subsequently detained without explanation or access to his lawyer and his detention has been extended several times—the latest of which was for a month. Mr. Rowhani later informed his lawyer that the Deputy Prosecutor conveyed three allegations to him by phone, two of which were 'promoting the ideology of a deviant sect' and 'inciting public opinion.' (Mr. Rowhani does not recall the third allegation and officials will not repeat it to him.) The complaint was brought by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. Officials told Mr. Rowhani that the allegations relate to an X social media account representing the Qatari Baha'i community, created 5 years ago, which shares posts celebrating Qatari holidays and promoting values such as honesty and service to others. 'The charges brought against Remy Rowhani not only target him personally, but also falsely imply wrongdoing by the Baha'i community of Qatar,' said Dr. Saba Haddad, BIC Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. 'Targeting Mr. Rowhani is a way to intimidate the whole Baha'i community—for no reason other than their beliefs. The Baha'i International Community is also alarmed that these allegations directly mirror those brought by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Baha'is in that country. The Iranian government is, without doubt, exporting its persecution of Baha'is beyond its borders.' Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Officials have not given Mr. Rowhani's lawyer a formal statement of charges, and he has been denied bail. The latest developments come just three months after Mr. Rowhani's unwarranted imprisonment late last year—an incident which marked a serious escalation in the ongoing pattern of state-sponsored discrimination against the Baha'i community in Qatar. The continued targeting of Mr. Rowhani, and the unfounded allegations brought against him, is the most recent example of the decades of systematic discrimination, blacklisting, deportations, family separations, and stifled career opportunities, of innocent and law-abiding citizens and residents, purely on account of their faith. Qatar's government has ignored repeated appeals by the Baha'i community and shows no indication that they plan to improve the situation—which has forced the BIC to issue statements at the United Nations Human Rights Council on the dire situation of Qatar's Baha'i community. The BIC is concerned that Qatari officials are retaliating against these statements by targeting Mr. Rowhani. The Baha'i International Community urgently calls upon the Qatari authorities to: Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Remy Rowhani and clear his record. Appoint an appropriate official government liaison with the Baha'is in Qatar. Cease all forms of discrimination against the Baha'is in Qatar, and guarantee that Baha'is are no longer arbitrarily blacklisted, unfairly expelled, or subjected to systemic exclusion. The BIC further calls on Qatar to demonstrate that its commitments to human rights and social cohesion—principles it has publicly pledged to champion—are upheld in practice, not merely in words. Background On 23 December 2024, Mr. Remy Rowhani, a prominent Qatari citizen, former Director of the International Chamber of Commerce's MENA regional office and chairperson of the Assembly of the Baha'is of Qatar, was detained at Doha International Airport while attempting to travel for a short holiday. Despite having received verbal assurances from authorities that he was free to travel, Mr. Rowhani was arrested and placed in unsanitary detention conditions. The baseless case against Mr. Rowhani Mr. Rowhani's case highlights decades of systemic discrimination against the Baha'i community in Qatar. Despite overseeing voluntary financial contributions from Baha'is to the community, with the full knowledge of the Qatari authorities, Mr. Rowhani was charged in 2021 with collecting funds without a permit. His actions were not illegal under Qatari law at the time and no evidence was provided for the charges. Initially sentenced to six months' imprisonment and a fine of $27,000, on appeal in 2022 his sentence was later reduced to one month in prison and a fine of $13,700. After receiving verbal assurances via a third party that the sentence would not be enforced, in late 2024, Mr. Rowhani discovered that his case had been reopened and his access to key government services was restricted. He had been cleared to travel by airport authorities but, on 23 December 2024, he was detained and forced to begin his month-long prison sentence. He was also told that he would remain under surveillance for three years following his release. The case and sentence against Mr. Rowhani were spurious, and his imprisonment arbitrary, vindictive, and undignified, and Mr. Rowhani had been framed only for his religious beliefs and for discharging his community responsibilities. Mr. Rowhani's pastoral role in the Baha'i community For over eight years, Mr. Rowhani has served as chairperson of the Assembly of the Baha'is of Qatar, the elected governing institution of the Baha'i community in Qatar. His role is pastoral and addresses only the spiritual and administrative needs of the Baha'i religious community—which has existed in Qatar for over 80 years. His detention is emblematic of the broader pattern of discrimination faced by members of the Baha'i community in Qatar. Government discrimination against the Baha'i community in Qatar Over the eight decades the Baha'i community has existed in Qatar, it has sought to engage government authorities to address any misunderstandings and the systemic challenges such as discrimination, but to no avail. The BIC has long highlighted the relentless and concerted discrimination faced by the community. Baha'is in Qatar are denied formal recognition, resulting in significant hardships including the termination of residency permits, denial of certificates of good conduct, sudden refusals of residency, and unjust restrictions on family reunification. These measures risk the community's total erasure from Qatar.
Economic Times
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Create new world order
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of .) Ridvan celebrates declaration of Baha'u'llah to his followers that God had made him bearer of a fresh outpouring of divine guidance , and humanity had entered the final stage in its stupendous declared, 'The earth is but one country, and humankind its citizens.' More than 160 years have passed and, yet, most people are in a trap of a host of destructive tendencies, which must be thwarted. Baha'is believe it is the divine purpose of our times. Recognising that the world's 'prevailing order' was 'lamentably defective', Baha'u'llah said that solution to the world's problems would be found only in an ethical approach encompassing core spiritual principles of the world's religions, the most important of which would be recognition of the ' oneness of humankind '. During the exile and imprisonment that followed the declaration in the Garden of Ridvan, blueprint of a New World Order must get our act together and contribute positively in whatever manner possible. Baha'u'llah wrote that through the harmonious interface of dharm and science, present-day society will be completely transformed. He summoned rulers and religious leaders of his time and appealed for reconstruction, demilitarisation and complete abolition of war Days of Ridvan also provide the right occasion for establishment of institutions that constitute nucleus and pattern of the New World Order envisaged in Baha'i writings.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Create new world order
Ridvan celebrates declaration of Baha'u'llah to his followers that God had made him bearer of a fresh outpouring of divine guidance , and humanity had entered the final stage in its stupendous evolution. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India pulled the plug on IWT when Pakistanis are fighting over water What makes this India-Pakistan standoff more dangerous than past ones The problem of Pakistan couldn't have come at a worse time for D-St Baha'u'llah declared, 'The earth is but one country, and humankind its citizens.' More than 160 years have passed and, yet, most people are in a trap of a host of destructive tendencies, which must be thwarted. Baha'is believe it is the divine purpose of our times. Recognising that the world's 'prevailing order' was 'lamentably defective', Baha'u'llah said that solution to the world's problems would be found only in an ethical approach encompassing core spiritual principles of the world's religions, the most important of which would be recognition of the ' oneness of humankind '. During the exile and imprisonment that followed the declaration in the Garden of Ridvan, blueprint of a New World Order emerged. All must get our act together and contribute positively in whatever manner possible. Baha'u'llah wrote that through the harmonious interface of dharm and science, present-day society will be completely transformed. He summoned rulers and religious leaders of his time and appealed for reconstruction, demilitarisation and complete abolition of war . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ₹2 Crore Term Plan For The Middle-Class Salaried Employees at Just ₹876/M Best Term Insurance! Click Here Undo Days of Ridvan also provide the right occasion for establishment of institutions that constitute nucleus and pattern of the New World Order envisaged in Baha'i writings.
Memri
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Memri
The Qatar Weekly Update (QWU) – Part Of The Qatar Monitor Project (QMP) – No. 4, January 28, 2025
"In October, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) raised concerns regarding reports of discrimination of religious minorities in the country, including the Baha'i Faith community, some of whom are citizens. According to CESCR, Baha'is were subjected to administrative deportation and blacklisting, resulting in loss of employment and familial separation." – 2023 US International Religious Freedom Report, Op-ed: "End America's unwise alliance with Qatar," by Michael Pregent, a former U.S. intelligence officer who also served as a Defense Department advisor on the Iraqi security forces from 2006 to 2011 – see The Continued Arbitrary Detention of Sheikh Talal Al-Thani in Qatar. "The deprivation of liberty of Sheikh Talal bin Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Ali Aal Thani, being in contravention of articles 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 2 (1), 9, 10 (1), 11, 14, 16 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is arbitrary and falls within categories I, III and V."- see See also Fox News: "Fear grows for jailed Qatari royal amid health decline as wife pleads at UN for release – his wife is waging David vs. Goliath struggle against the wealthy Qatari monarchy" – see
