BIC GENEVA — Iran recently underwent its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR)—a UN human rights review—at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva. A significant number of UN Member States raised concerns about the systematic persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran at the session, among other violations of human rights, including the persecution of minorities, and the targeting of women and girls.

Iran’s UPR came in the same week that Islamic Republic security forces detained 11 Bahá’í women in Iran on baseless charges.

The UPR is a peer-review mechanism under the Human Rights Council that examines the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. The country being reviewed is expected to outline steps it has taken to implement previous, which they will have pledged to do, and to highlight recent human rights developments in the country.

Many of the countries presenting statements at the UPR specifically referred to the human rights situation of the Bahá’ís and made specific recommendations for the Iranian government to implement.

In its statements during Iran’s UPR session, Italy emphasized the importance of “taking the necessary measures to guarantee equal rights for all citizens that have encountered discrimination of ethnic and religious minorities, with particular regard to Bahá’ís.” Austria urged Iran to “bring the Iranian constitution in line with international human rights law and ensure that all religious minorities, including the Bahá’í, are recognized and can fully enjoy the right to freedom of religion or belief.”

Lithuania urged Iran to “ensure respect of the rights of religious minorities by ceasing all forms of discrimination and persecution of Bahá’í and other religious communities.” Estonia called for Iran to “end discrimination on any grounds, including of religious minorities such as the Bahá’ís.” Luxembourg urged Iran to “stop persecuting religious and ethnic minorities, particularly the Bahá’í, Kurds, Ahwazi, Baloch, and Turkmen.” Ireland expressed concern over “reports of continued discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, including members of the Bahá’í Faith.”

Belgium urged Iran to “ensure that the constitutional and legislative order guarantees the enjoyment of all human rights on an equal basis to all religious minorities, including Bahá’ís, Christians, Jews, and Muslims of every denomination.” The Netherlands expressed grave concern over “the discrimination and persecution of … ethnic and religious minorities like the Bahá’í.” Spain asked that Iran “guarantee religious freedom and freedom of conscience for minorities such as the Bahá’í community, adopting specific measures to eliminate discrimination and prove their protection.”

Brazil expressed concern about “reports of human rights violations against women, human rights defenders, and religious and ethnic minorities, including Bahá’ís.” Canada stressed the need to “repeal all laws and discriminatory practices towards ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahá’ís, Ahwazi Arabs, Baluchis, Kurds, and Sunni Muslims.” Costa Rica stated that Iran must “eliminate all discrimination against religious minorities, including Bahá’ís, Ahwazi Arabs, and Christians, and guarantee respect for cultural and religious rights and freedoms.”

North Macedonia called for Iran to “abolish all laws, regulations, and procedures that discriminate directly against all women and girls, especially towards Bahá’í women who are arbitrarily arrested and detained,” emphasizing the need to “ensure their protection from further harassment.” Albania asked Iran to “stop persecution and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, including the Bahá’ís.” And the Marshall Islands said Iran should “adopt concrete measures to eliminate discrimination and enhance the protection of the human rights of the Bahá’ís and other minority communities in the country.”

On January 20th, the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) co-hosted a high-profile event at the UN ahead of the UPR, together with four other organizations, which gathered many UN Member States as well as over a dozen human rights experts and UN agencies. It spotlighted the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, with a particular emphasis on the Iranian Bahá’í community and the recent report of Human Rights Watch on the Bahá’ís, “The Boot on My Neck.”

“The report, The Boot on My Neck”, explained Hilary Power, Geneva Director of Human Rights Watch speaking on the panel, “documents the authorities’ systematic violation of a wide spectrum of fundamental rights of members of the Bahá’í community through discriminatory laws and policies. The authorities have intentionally codified this repression of Bahá’ís into law and official government policy, vigorously enforced by security forces and judicial authorities.”

“Bahá’ís who spoke to Human Rights Watch described their persecution as a series of violations that begins with their very first encounters with the Iranian state and affects every single aspect of their lives,” she added.

“ The Bahá’í community faces systematic exclusion from higher education, confiscation of property, and arbitrary detention,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Mai Sato.

“While Bahá’ís all over the world contribute to their societies, and have the freedom to contribute to their societies,” said Simin Fahandej, BIC Representative to the UN, also speaking on the panel, “in Iran, unfortunately, they have been systematically denied almost every single human right for over 45 years. By direct evidence, persecution against the Bahá’ís in Iran is institutionalized within Iranian law, which excludes Bahá’ís in all areas of life and makes it impossible for them to even seek justice.”

“The former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief called the persecution of the Bahá’ís one of the most extreme manifestations of religious persecution in the world today,” Ms. Fahandej added.

The strong support of countries for the Bahá’ís in Iran during the UPR process is the latest development in an extraordinary wave of support the Bahá’ís in Iran have received in recent months. A former UN Special Rapporteur on Iran described this persecution as being driven by “genocidal intent.” Multiple reports by the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran highlights the disproportionate targeting of Bahá’í women since the 2022 uprising, revealing a deliberate escalation of repression. And in an unprecedented move, 18 UN experts united to issue a joint letter rebuking Iran for its actions, while the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center published a chilling account of 45 years of violence against the Bahá’í community.

Adding to the global outrage, a new UN press release condemned the systematic targeting of Bahá’í women, calling for immediate action to address these human rights violations.

This intensification of international concern underscores the urgency of protecting Bahá’ís in Iran from a relentless campaign of oppression and violence.