Aufruf zum Schutz der Baha'i im Jemen
It is now increasingly recognized that Iran has exported its revolutionary objectives to Yemen’s Houthi authorities and infected them with the desire to threaten and effectively eradicate its Baha’i community — a religious minority group found in both countries.
The Baha’i Faith, which originated in Iran, has more than six million members around the world, including 2,000 in Yemen and far more in Iran, where they have been persecuted for decades.
This week, as an international group of lawyers and human rights experts, we are urging Canada and other governments to call for the release of wrongfully imprisoned Baha’is in Yemen, and the dropping of fabricated charges against others recently charged. We are troubled by the pattern of persecution in Yemen and the lack of due process afforded Baha’i men, women and children who have been targeted by the Houthi authorities.
As Canada ramps up its campaign for a UN Security Council seat, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated just days ago that he will “call out the unfair treatment” of minorities, girls and women. He should do that here. His actions are urgently needed in advance of a key court date on September 29, when the unfair trial of 24 Baha’is will start in earnest with a potentially devastating outcome.
The recent trial of Yemeni Baha’i Hamed bin Haydara indicates how events may unfold. Five years ago, he was arrested on unfounded charges, and has been tortured, beaten, electrocuted, denied urgent medical attention and faced dozens of postponed and cancelled court hearings. In January, he was sentenced to death by public execution by the Houthi-controlled Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a in absentia. Outrageously, the same court verdict called for the confiscation of all his assets on the one hand, and the dissolution of all Baha’i assemblies in Yemen on the other, intermingling the sentencing of one man with a poorly disguised effort to eradicate a whole religious minority community.
Now, 24 more Baha’is face the same courts. On September 15, a court hearing was held to initiate legal proceedings against the group, which includes men, women, and a teenage girl. Amnesty International has warned that the charges they face could result in the death penalty.