Resolution on the escalating repression of the Baha’is in Iran

The European Parliament adopted by 549 votes to 7, with 31 abstentions, a resolution on the escalating repression of the Baha’is in Iran.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew and Green/EFA groups.

The 300 000-strong Baha’i community in Iran, which has no constitutional recognition, faces systematic state persecution under the 1991 memorandum, including arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, property confiscation, denial of education and employment, restriction of burial rights, and incitement to hatred by state-controlled media. Repression has intensified, with mass detentions, expedited unfair trials, and false charges such as espionage.

In 2024, around 1 200 Baha’is were subjected to legal proceedings or imprisonment. Women accounted for two thirds of detainees, and 16 women in Hamadan and Isfahan received 129 years of combined sentences, facing torture and severe due-process violations. Authorities have also desecrated Baha’i cemeteries in multiple cities, including Tehran, Ahvaz, Rafsanjan, Kerman and Hamadan.

Parliament strongly condemned the escalating persecution of the Baha’i community and systemic suppression of all religious and ethnic minorities and women. It called on Iran to immediately cease all discrimination, harassment, detention, property confiscation and fundamental rights violations.

It expressed deep concern over the targeting of Baha’i women, facing religious and gender-based persecution and accounting for two thirds of Baha’is imprisoned.

In this regard, Iran is urged to:

- immediately release all individuals detained for their religion or belief and defending human rights, and on faith-related blasphemy or national security charges, and to cease harassment and violence against religious communities;

- repeal the 1991 Memorandum and allow Baha’is access to education, employment and basic services and to halt property confiscations, return all seized assets and provide legal remedies and compensation to victims.

Parliament firmly condemned the rise in executions in Iran and reiterated its strong opposition to the death penalty and urges Iran to halt its use as a tool of political and religious repression.

Member states must raise the issue of severe human rights violations in Iran and impose sanctions on Iranian officials contributing to the persecution of the Baha’is.

Lastly, the Council is called on to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation and extend EU sanctions to all its members and those responsible for human rights violations.