Iran's Crackdown on Baha'i Community Intensifies Amidst Rising Tensions

Increased Persecution of Baha'is in Iran

Geneva—May 25, 2026—Boshra Mostafavi, a pregnant Baha'i woman from Rafsanjan in southeastern Iran, is among the many Baha'is who have faced detention and imprisonment in recent months, as the Islamic Republic escalates its campaign of brutality against this religious minority.

Boshra is one of nearly 80 Baha'is who have been subjected to arrest and imprisonment since the onset of unrest in February. Iranian authorities have recorded over 400 recent cases of human rights violations against the Baha'i community, including arrests, violent raids on homes, illegal property seizures, and obstruction of justice by judicial officials.

The Baha'i International Community (BIC) has also reported on the severe cases of two cousins from Kerman, Peyvand Naeimi and Borna Naeimi, who were tortured, subjected to mock executions, and coerced into giving false confessions for crimes they did not commit.

Simin Fahandej, the BIC's representative at the United Nations in Geneva, stated, "It is almost incomprehensible that Iran is facing crises on multiple fronts, yet its government chooses to focus on further oppression of an innocent community, whose innocence is clearly recognized by the world."

She further emphasized, "The measure of leadership is not determined by the power a government exerts over its citizens, but by how it utilizes its resources to empower people. Leadership should not be used to suppress individuals based on their faith, ethnicity, or gender, nor to conceal serious human rights violations under the guise of war."

Boshra Mostafavi was initially acquitted due to lack of evidence after her first arrest years ago, but prosecutors appealed the decision, leading to a reversal on April 25, 2026. She is now serving a four-month sentence in Kerman prison until she gives birth.

A clear indication of the persecution against Baha'is is reflected in a judge's alleged statement during a hearing regarding the prosecutor's appeal: "You are Baha'i, and you will pay the price for being Baha'i in an Islamic country." Two other Baha'i women, Didar Ahmadi and Nahid Naeimi, who were arrested, acquitted, and then re-detained alongside Boshra, also began their sentences on April 25.

Requests for Boshra's release from prison, which include essential medical appointments and pregnancy-related tests, have been denied. The Iranian government is expected to allow her to attend her pregnancy-related medical tests by at least May 30.

Shakila Ghasemi, a 26-year-old from Kerman, has been held for over 100 days, including at least 10 weeks in solitary confinement, and is among the many women imprisoned in recent months. Following a raid by plainclothes agents on February 2, her family has had little contact with her.

When Shakila's family requested her furlough from Kerman prison after February 28, officials responded, "No Baha'i prisoner will be released." Meanwhile, dozens of other detainees and convicted criminals were granted furlough.

Due to prolonged solitary confinement and lack of medical care, many Baha'is are facing medical emergencies, compounded by extreme stress from being incarcerated without family, legal assistance, or due process.

Among the most severe cases are those of Peyvand Naeimi, a swimmer, who was arrested on January 8 on false charges of inciting unrest and was held at a facility of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps before being transferred to prison. Peyvand endured torture for at least 10 consecutive days, including being bound for 48 hours, deprived of food and water, and subjected to two mock executions. He remains incarcerated in Kerman without due process.

Peyvand's cousin Borna, a karate champion and father of a three-year-old, was detained on March 1. Agents interrogating him from the Revolutionary Guards subjected him to electric shocks, causing severe burns to his legs and feet, along with two mock executions.

Mock executions are a severe form of psychological torture and are prohibited under international law.

Mrs. Fahandej remarked, "It is extremely cruel to imprison an innocent pregnant woman—punishing not only her but also the child she carries."

She added, "Iranian leaders must ultimately confront the truth: every one of the 90 million people living within their borders is entitled to full and equal human rights, and they are all their responsibility. Showcasing Iran's diversity on global platforms means little if that same diversity is met with imprisonment, oppression, and discrimination behind closed doors. The extraordinary cultural, identity, and belief diversity of Iran should be a source of genuine national pride, reflected not just in words but in actions."

Mrs. Fahandej concluded, "We urge the Iranian government to unconditionally release Boshra before her next medical appointment on May 30, and to free all recent Baha'i detainees who have been scapegoated by Iranian authorities during this crisis."