Iran Steps Up Persecution of Baha’i Faith 

Latest Developments

• Increased Targeting of Baha’i Minority Since War With Israel: Iranian authorities have increased efforts to target members of the Baha’i faith, subjecting Baha’i citizens to prison sentences, arbitrary detention, and property seizures, according to the Baha’i International Community (BIC) and Human Rights Watch. The government reportedly intensified its crackdown in the wake of the 12-Day War with Israel. BIC described more than 750 cases of harassment, a threefold increase from the same time last year, more than 200 raids on homes and businesses, and more than 100 people arrested, with sentences of up to 10 years. 
• House and Senate Condemn Iran’s Treatment of Baha’is: On December 3, a bipartisan group of 21 senators introduced a resolution condemning the increased persecution of members of the Baha’i faith by Tehran. The resolution, introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Boozman (R-AR), with a companion resolutionintroduced in the House by Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), called out the decades-long persecution of the Baha’i, noting that two-thirds of the victims are Baha’i women. The resolution urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “utilize available authorities to impose sanctions on officials of the Government of Iran and other individuals directly responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against the Baha’i community of Iran.” 
• Cemeteries Restricted and Vandalized: The 2025 annual report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom described official discrimination against members of the Baha’i faith, citing multiple arrests on charges such as “promoting the Baha’i faith,” “propaganda against the Islamic Republic,” and “promotional activities against Islamic Sharia.” The report also describes authorities restricting Baha’i access to cemeteries, the destruction of gravestones, and tolerance for vandalism. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iranian authorities have viewed members of the Baha’i faith as agents of Western influence seeking to make Iranians “abandon the ordinances and teachings of Islam.” 

FDD Expert Response

“While Tehran does repress other religious minorities such as Jews and Christians, the Baha’i endure the worst persecution because the Islamic Republic regards their faith as a perversion of religion itself. In Tehran’s eyes, Judaism and Christianity at least constitute divine precursors to Islam. But the Baha’i doctrine of progressive revelation, which emphasizes the fundamental unity of all religions, renders the Baha’i worldview as a rejection of Islam as God’s final revelation. Tehran cannot tolerate this.” — Tzvi Kahn, Research Fellow and Senior Editor

“The Islamic Republic’s Shia supremacy is inseparable from its theocracy. It has long villainized other faiths, with the Baha’i community being no exception. This systemic discrimination mobilizes support through hate while leaving religious minorities exposed as convenient scapegoats whenever the regime seeks to project strength by fabricating espionage charges during periods of unrest.” — Janatan Sayeh, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Iran Drops the Façade of Tolerance Toward Persian Jews,” by Janatan Sayeh

“Tehran Ramps Up Executions Amid Fears of Post-War Unrest,” by Janatan Sayeh

“Iran’s Religious War against the Baha’i,” by Tzvi Kahn