UN Rapporteur: Similarities in the Persecution of Bahá'ís in Yemen with Actions Against Bahá'ís in Iran

Ahmad Shahid, the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief, criticized the persecution of Bahá'ís in Yemen on Monday, stating that these attacks resemble actions against Bahá'ís in Iran. According to the UN website, Ahmad Shahid emphasized that the intensification of the ongoing pressure on the Bahá'í community in Sana'a is similar to the hardships faced by Bahá'ís in Iran. This UN rapporteur noted that the continued persecution of Bahá'ís as a religious minority has intensified and manifested more clearly as religious pressure in Yemen. Ahmad Shahid further referred to the telephone summons of at least 30 Yemeni Bahá'ís for court appearances by the Yemeni public prosecutor on April 17, 2017, stating that at least 25 Bahá'ís have been arrested and pressured to deny their faith. In this context, the Bahá'í International Community states that the recently arrested Bahá'ís in Yemen are often prominent members of the community who helped manage community affairs. The report adds that plainclothes agents recently arrested 'four other Bahá'ís, including Mr. Walid Ayash, a prominent leader of one of Yemen's tribes.' It is reported that responsible authorities have denied necessary medical services to seven detained Bahá'ís. Ahmad Shahid remarked that 'the apparent goal of this new wave of summons and arrests is to intimidate and pressure Bahá'ís in Yemen to deny their faith.' He added, 'No one, including religious minorities, should be subjected to discrimination because of their beliefs.' This UN rapporteur called on the Shiite Houthi militants who control Sana'a to immediately release all detained Bahá'ís and end the persecution of Bahá'ís in the areas under their control. In this context, Diane Ala'i, representative of the Bahá'í International Community in Geneva, stated, 'It is unfortunate that Iranian officials systematically persecute their citizens due to their religious beliefs; however, it is entirely regrettable and disgraceful that these same officials also persecute citizens of other countries outside Iran, especially in a country facing a humanitarian crisis.' Mr. Ahmad Shahid was appointed as the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2016. He previously served as the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran.