MEPs denounce Iran’s campaign against Bahá’ís as “persecution by design,” “a state-engineered crime against humanity,” and a “continuing pattern of tyranny.”
STRASBOURG — The European Parliament last week “strongly condemned” the Iranian government’s violations against the Bahá’ís of that country, denouncing over 45 years of “systematic persecution,” and urging European officials to forward the Parliament’s concerns to the Iranian government.
In a formal response to the debate, European Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque said that the EU “will continue to be vocal and urge Iran to ensure respect for the fundamental freedoms for all, including members of the Bahá’í [community] and other ethnic and religious minorities in the country.”
The condemnation came through an unprecedented and historic urgency resolution—the Parliament’s newest standalone measure demonstrating its concern over the severity of the persecution facing the Bahá’ís. It was passed by 549 Members of European Parliament (MEPs) in an overwhelming display of cross-party unity.
Urgency resolutions are major instruments of the European Parliament intended to voice public concerns on human rights and other issues—in this case, regarding decades of attacks on Bahá’ís in Iran.
The resolution, “On the escalating repression of the Bahá’ís in Iran,” documents the lack of constitutional recognition of the Bahá’í community, arbitrary arrests and imprisonment, forced disappearances, denial of dignified burials, confiscation of properties, denial of education and employment and incitement to hatred by state-controlled media.
The resolution also comes days after the United Nations General Assembly condemned the “cumulative” effects of the Iranian government’s persecution of minorities—and expressed specific concern on Bahá’í rights.
Noted also in the European resolution is a 1991 Memorandum signed by the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader, which codifies these policies and calls for the “progress and development” of Bahá’ís to be “blocked.”
“We commend the European Parliament for passing—with such a decisive majority—this historic urgency resolution regarding the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran,” said Alessandro Benedetti, Representative of the Bahá’í International Community in Brussels.
“European states and EU institutions have supported the rights of Iranian Bahá’ís for decades, and in recent years this support has gained even more strength and resolve as the Iranian government’s persecution of the Bahá’ís has intensified,” Mr. Benedetti said. “The demand made of Iranian officials is now clear: they must repeal their discriminatory policies against the Bahá’ís and grant them all the rights guaranteed under international human rights covenants to which Iran has long been a signatory.”
Parliamentarians unite to defend Bahá’í rights
Several MEPs spoke in support of the Bahá’ís in Iran during a debate ahead of the vote, with Hannah Neumann, a German MEP and Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Iran of the European Parliament, saying: “A state that imprisons people for their faith or gender is not strong; it is terrified. A regime that seizes Bahá’í homes is not powerful; it only shows how fragile its own walls have become.”
“When you silence one woman,” Neumann added, referring to the fact that most Bahá’ís facing judicial actions by the Iranian government are women, “her voice returns through millions.”
Czech MEP Danuse Nerudova called the persecution a “continuing pattern of tyranny” and an “attempt to erase the history and identity of a whole community,” with Swedish MEP Evin Incir adding that Iran’s policies against the Bahá’ís were “persecution by design” and “a state-engineered crime against humanity.”
The Slovak MEP Miriam Lexmann called the Bahá’ís “an example for people all around the world, because they, facing persecution and injustice, support with great courage and resilience each other and their fellow citizens.”
“Our message is clear—the Bahá’ís are not alone—women in Iran are not alone,” Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstätter said.
“Europe must stand with the Bahá’ís,” Danuse Nerudova also said, including members of all religious minorities, and the Maltese MEP and Vice Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Iran of the European Parliament Daniel Attard insisted that “Words without consequence protect no one. If Iran denies recognition and basic rights, the EU must answer with real pressure.”
Unprecedented demands for Bahá’í religious freedom
The urgency resolution also “strongly condemns” the escalating persecution of the Bahá’ís, along with all suppression of religious and ethnic minorities and women, while calling for an immediate end to discrimination, harassment, arbitrary detention, property confiscation and other violations of fundamental rights.
Bahá’ís and others imprisoned for their religion or belief, including those held under fabricated “national security” or blasphemy charges, must be “immediately” released, the Parliament said.
Bahá’í women now represent more than half of Bahá’ís facing judicial proceedings, the resolution added with “deep concern,” while citing over 1,200 pending judiciary cases against Bahá’ís. Wrongful convictions against several women—including Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, the Parliament said—must be reversed.
The resolution stated that Iran’s government should also “return all seized assets” appropriated from Bahá’ís while paying compensation to victims of economic rights violations, and allow Bahá’ís access to education, employment and other basic services. Cemeteries must no longer be confiscated or desecrated, the MEPs added, as seen in Tehran, Ahvaz, Rafsanjan, Hamadan, and elsewhere in the country.
The resolution urges European Union institutions and officials, and EU Member States, to raise Iran’s deteriorating human rights record—including violations of freedom of religion or belief—in bilateral engagements with the Iranian government and to impose sanctions on Iranian judges, prosecutors and intelligence officials responsible for persecuting Bahá’ís.
The Parliament also instructed its President to transmit the urgency resolution to European institutions, EU Member States, and most notably, to senior Iranian officials.
Previous European support for Iranian Bahá’í rights
This urgency resolution follows three other resolutions by the European Parliament citing the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran in just the past year—a clear demonstration of sustained consensus and rising concern across Europe’s political spectrum on the need for urgent action. The three previous resolutions—in November 2024, January 2025, and April 2025—each condemned Iran’s systematic religious persecution and called for the protection of fundamental rights.
Earlier this year, 125 Members of the European Parliament and European parliamentarians also signed a joint statement drawing attention to the escalating abuse of Bahá’í women in Iran, urging the international community to respond with urgency and resolve.
And this last year saw 24 MEPs, from multiple political groups, submit three Parliamentary Questions to High Representative Kaja Kallas to raise concerns over the pervasive extent of Iran’s persecution, campaign of religious hatred, and the misuse of state foundations and financial entities to seize Bahá’í-owned assets.
