A Grave Violation of Religious Freedom

A Doha court sentenced Remy rowhani, 71, chair of the National⁣ Spiritual Assembly of the ⁢Baha’is in Qatar, to five years in prison on August 13, 2025. The conviction stems from his peaceful⁤ exercise of freedom of⁣ speech and religion, raising serious concerns about human rights in the Gulf state. International‍ observers, including the Baha’i International Community and Human Rights Watch, are calling for his immediate release.

The Charges and Legal Basis

Qatari authorities charged Rowhani with multiple offenses ⁤under Qatari law. These include ‍promoting a doctrine that “casts doubt on the foundations and teachings of Islam” (Article 259 of the 2004 Penal Code), violating social principles and values ⁢using details technology (Article 8 of the 2014 Cybercrime‍ Prevention Law), and disseminating⁢ “destructive⁣ principles” (Article 47(b) of the 1979 Law on Publications and Publishing). The charges ‍are based on content ⁢from Rowhani’s X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts, linked to his⁢ phone number and email address.

Human Rights Watch reviewed the social media posts, finding they primarily celebrated both Qatari and Muslim holidays alongside baha’i values. The Baha’i International Community stated the posts focused on principles like justice,gender equality,respect for⁤ parents,and‍ service to humanity.

A ⁢Pattern of Discrimination

This⁣ case is not isolated. Qatar has a ⁤documented history of discriminating against ⁣Baha’is. Past actions include deportations, delays in re-establishing a Baha’i cemetery, and the refusal to recognize Baha’i marriages. Similar discrimination against baha’is has been reported ⁤in neighboring countries‍ like Egypt and Yemen,and constitutes a crime against humanity in⁢ iran.

The Baha’i faith, which emphasizes the unity of all religions and people, is⁤ ofen viewed with suspicion by authorities in the region.Qatari authorities,according to the Baha’i International Community and Human Rights watch,routinely engage in the ⁤demonization of Baha’is,potentially inciting hatred against them.

due Process Concerns

The legal ⁤proceedings against Rowhani have raised serious concerns about due process. His lawyer was reportedly denied access to court⁤ documents outlining the charges and evidence against⁢ him. Moreover, the lawyer was not permitted to present a defense ⁣during an initial hearing on June 18, 2025.

Adding to the concerns, court documents reveal allegations that Rowhani collected donations for Baha’i individuals and entities abroad without proper licensing. However, an informed source⁤ indicates that authorities were already aware of this practice. Rowhani was previously fined and briefly imprisoned on December 23, 2024, for similar fundraising activities in 2013 and 2014, amounting to a fine⁤ of 50,000 Qatari rial (approximately⁣ US$13,700) and a one-month sentence.This earlier case⁤ centered on‍ collecting voluntary donations, a practice central to the⁤ Baha’i faith.

International Response

The case has drawn criticism from⁤ international bodies. on July 31,‍ 2025, United Nations experts on freedom of religion, freedom of expression,⁢ peaceful assembly, cultural rights, and arbitrary detention issued a joint‍ statement expressing grave concerns about the discrimination against the Baha’i minority in‍ Qatar and Rowhani’s arbitrary arrest and detention.

Michael ‍Page, Deputy Middle East Director at Human Rights Watch, stated, ⁤”Imprisoning Remy Rowhani ‍for five years…is a serious breach⁣ of human rights law.” He urged Qatari authorities to respect fundamental freedoms ⁤and release Rowhani immediately.