Iran crackdown on Baha'is

In 2026, amid massive anti-government protests and war with the United States and Israel, Iran intensified its persecution of the Baha'i minority. Since January, dozens of Baha'is have been imprisoned, with reports of torture, forced confessions, and desecration of holy books. Notable cases include Peyvand Naimi, detained for over six months without formal charges, and Behzad Basiri and his family, arrested in April. The crackdown is part of a wider repression following protests that began in late 2025. Human rights groups report at least 63 Baha'is detained as of June 11, likely an undercount. State media has amplified anti-Baha'i rhetoric, and an exhibition in Mazandaran portrayed Baha'is as enemies of the state.