Baha’i News – This report is based on investigations and reports by Human Rights Watch, highlighting the violations and challenges faced by the Baha’i minority in Qatar.
Freedom of belief is a fundamental human right guaranteed in international conventions and national constitutions worldwide, including the Qatari Constitution. However, human rights reports indicate that members of the Baha’i minority in Qatar are subjected to systematic discrimination and state-sponsored intimidation, raising serious concerns about the future of their presence in this gas-rich Gulf state. Data reveals an escalating pattern of violations ranging from arbitrary arrests and deportations, in blatant disregard of constitutional principles and repeated calls for dialogue from community leaders.
A Pattern of Persistent Discrimination and Persecution
For decades, Baha’is in Qatar have suffered from deeply rooted government discrimination. Michael Page, Deputy Middle East Director at Human Rights Watch, asserts that Qatari authorities have “consistently ignored repeated efforts by community leaders to engage in dialogue with the government and seek redress,” stressing that “this state-sponsored discrimination threatens the very existence of the Baha’i community in Qatar.” These statements highlight a worsening crisis of trust between the Baha’i community and the government, where individuals feel targeted because of their beliefs.
One of the most prominent manifestations of this discrimination is the practice of arbitrary deportation. Human Rights Watch revealed that the Qatari government has deported up to 14 Baha’i individuals between 2003 and 2025. What is striking in these cases is the absence of clear reasons and written justifications for these decisions, other than the fact that they are Baha’is. This pattern of deportation instills fear and anxiety among community members, creating a state of uncertainty about their stability in a country they consider their home.
Individual Cases Reveal the Depth of the Crisis
Some individual cases highlight the seriousness of discriminatory practices. Among them is the case of an Iranian Baha’i born in Qatar who was forced to leave the country in March 2025. This individual received no written justification for his deportation but faced a threat of deportation on charges of “disturbing public order,” a vague accusation often used to justify arbitrary measures against minorities or dissidents without providing concrete evidence.
The organization also points to the case of Remy Rouhani, who serves as the “head of the Central Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is in Qatar.” Rouhani was arrested on April 28, 2025, under Qatar’s cybercrime law, on charges of “publishing news, photos, audio recordings, or videos related to the privacy or family life of others.” This arrest raises serious questions about the use of criminal laws, particularly cybercrime laws, as a tool to suppress freedom of expression and belief. These questions become more pressing given that Rouhani had been released in January 2025 after serving a one-month prison sentence, suggesting a recurring pattern of legal harassment.
Discrimination is not limited to arrests and deportations; it extends to other vital areas. Human Rights Watch also noted cases of termination of employment for Baha’is and “refusal to grant them good conduct certificates,” a necessary document for employment or completing other official procedures. These actions not only affect individuals’ livelihoods but also limit their ability to participate fully in society, creating a class of second-class citizens.
Contradiction with the Constitution and Baha’i Principles
The discriminatory practices mentioned above starkly contradict Article 35 of the Qatari Constitution, enacted in 2003. This article explicitly prohibits any “discrimination based on sex, origin, language, or religion” and emphasizes “freedom of belief.” This contradiction between the constitutional text and the lived reality of Baha’is highlights a significant gap in the implementation of human rights principles in the country.
For its part, the Baha’i Faith, whose adherents are estimated at over seven million worldwide and whose world headquarters are in Israel (historical Acre and Haifa), follows the teachings of Baháʼu’lláh, who was born in Iran in 1817 and is considered a prophet. Baha’i teachings emphasize unity, equality, justice, and peace, rejecting violence and discrimination in their various forms. However, Iranian authorities also do not recognize their faith, unlike other non-Muslim religious minorities that are recognized. This reality places Baha’is in a particularly vulnerable position in some countries in the region.
History of Baha’i Presence in Qatar: Roots Spanning Centuries
Despite contemporary challenges, the Baha’i presence in the Gulf region, including Qatar, is not recent. The roots of the Baha’i presence in the Arabian Peninsula trace back to early periods of the Faith’s history, with the spread of Baháʼu’lláh’s teachings after His declaration in the 19th century. The first Baha’is arrived in Qatar in the early 20th century, with the commercial and economic expansion of the region. Many came from Iran, where the Baha’i Faith had already spread, bringing with them the principles and values of their faith that emphasize hard work, honesty, and service to society.
The presence of Baha’is in Qatar was not prominent initially, but they formed a small and interconnected community. Many worked in sectors such as trade, education, and healthcare, making significant contributions to the development of Qatar’s infrastructure and society in its early stages. With the increasing discovery of oil in the mid-20th century, more workers and residents flowed into Qatar, and with them, the number of Baha’is increased, though they remained a small and not openly prominent minority due to the nature of the state’s political and social system.
In subsequent decades, the Baha’i community in Qatar continued to exist quietly, maintaining its spiritual identity and principles. And just as in Lebanon, there is no official recognition of the Baha’i Faith in Qatar as an independent religious denomination, which imposes restrictions on their public worship, the establishment of their religious institutions, and the registration of their personal status according to their faith. This situation leaves them vulnerable to administrative and social restrictions that may affect their daily lives, as highlighted by the Human Rights Watch report, despite their historical ……More
Article Author
Munir Irfani
Journalist and Translator
ABN Bahá’í News
Contact: monir@abnnews.net
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Baha’is in Qatar, Human Rights, Religious Discrimination, Arbitrary Detention, Deportation, Human Rights Watch, Freedom of Belief, Baha’i Minority, Minority Suppression, Constitution of Qatar, Remy Rouhani, Gulf Region, Religious Persecution, Discrimination, Social Integration, Historical Presence, Religious Freedom, Human Rights Report, State-Sponsored Discrimination, Baha’i Faith.
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