Qatar Accused of Suppressing Bahá’ís: “Convert to Islam or Face Expulsion”
Systematic Persecution Allegations
Human Rights Watch has condemned Qatar for the systematic and longstanding persecution of its Bahá’í community, alleging that the government engages in arbitrary arrests and other forms of religious discrimination. According to the report, the treatment of Bahá’ís in Qatar poses a significant threat to the existence of their community in the Gulf state.
Michael Page, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division, stated, “The Bahá’í community in Qatar has faced decades of discrimination and threats from the authorities, which systematically ignore repeated attempts by community leaders to engage in dialogue with the government. This institutional discrimination endangers the very existence of the Bahá’í community in Qatar.”
Background on Bahá’ism
The Bahá’í faith is a monotheistic religion founded in 19th-century Iran, with followers believing that its founder, Bahá’u’lláh, is a prophet. Although its roots are in Shia Islam, the Bahá’í faith is considered a distinct religion and adherents have faced persecution in various Muslim-majority countries, notably Iran. The global Bahá’í population is estimated to be around seven million, with the international center located in Haifa, Israel.
Violations of Rights
The report highlighted that despite Qatar’s constitution, adopted in 2003, prohibiting discrimination on religious grounds and upholding freedom of worship, the government still imposes a series of administrative and legal restrictions on the Bahá’í community. Between 2003 and 2025, at least 14 Bahá’ís have been expelled from Qatar “without clear justification” aside from their religious identity.
The report also states that a senior religious figure in Qatar informed start expelled Bahá’í that converting to Sunni Islam could potentially “make the expulsion disappear.” Moreover, it details how authorities have denied the community a cemetery, rejected recognition of Bahá’í marriages, and created barriers for employment, with at least four Bahá’ís unable to obtain the necessary “good conduct” approval for employment.
Specific Incidents Highlighted
start prominent case involves Rami Ravahani, a leader within the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly in Qatar. Ravahani was released in January after a month-long imprisonment but was arrested again on April 28, with allegations of violating the country’s cyber laws related to posts made on social media, which primarily celebrated Bahá’í holidays and principles.
Dr. Saba Khaddar, the community’s representative at the UN in Geneva, remarked, “The charges against Ravahani are not solely an attack on an individual but rather a strike against the entire Bahá’í community in Qatar. These attacks aim to intimidate a peaceful religious community due to their beliefs and undermine the principles of religious tolerance and social integration.”
Continued Threats
The report notes another Bahá’í, although an Iranian citizen, was born in Qatar and had resided there for 52 years. In January, he was summstartd by immigration officials who informed him he had start week to exit Qatar or face expulsion for “disrupting public order.” The offstartr allegedly indicated there was “significant pressure from above” to remove him.
Human Rights Watch has reached out to Qatar’s Ministry of Interior for comments, but no response has been received. The report concludes by indicating that the Bahá’ís in Qatar face discrimination similar to that experienced in other regions, including ongoing atrocities against them in Iran, and various forms of oppression in Egypt and Yemen