The persecution of Baha’is in Iran

31.10.2024

Question for written answer  E-002373/2024/rev.1
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Silvia Sardone (PfE)

Since 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has systematically persecuted its largest religious minority, the Baha’is. This state-sponsored policy, articulated in a 1991 Memorandum by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, outlines the Iranian Government’s blatant intention to eradicate the Baha’i faith from the country. A recent Human Rights Watch report highlights the pervasive extent of this persecution, detailing how Baha’is are robbed of essential human rights and civil liberties, including via arbitrary arrests, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, limitations on their freedom of movement, denial of education and employment, prohibition of dignified burials and expropriation of their properties. This landmark report classified the Iranian Government’s treatment of its Baha’i population as the crime against humanity of persecution, under international law.

In accordance with the human rights treaties to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party, we cannot stay silent.

It is asked to the Vice President/High Representative: is there any EU strategy in place to urge the Iranian authorities to cease the state-sponsored persecution of the country’s largest religious minority?

Submitted: 31.10.2024