Paris,
Iranian authorities say they have arrested several members of the Bahai religious minority, accusing them of involvement in unrest that followed recent nationwide protests, according to state-linked media.
The arrests were announced on Saturday by Iran’s intelligence ministry and reported by the Tasnim news agency, which is closely aligned with the country’s security establishment. Officials alleged that those detained were part of a network that participated in what the government describes as “riots” and acts of vandalism during the demonstrations.
In a statement quoted by Tasnim, the intelligence ministry said it had identified a 32-member group linked to the Bahai community and described it as an “espionage network”. Authorities reported that they arrested 12 people and summoned 13 others for questioning. The ministry claimed the group operated across several parts of the country, including Tehran, and said its main base was located in the eastern city of Mashhad.
The Bahai faith is Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, but its followers are not recognised under the country’s constitution and have long faced discrimination. Iranian authorities have repeatedly accused Bahais of acting against the state and of links to Israel, allegations the community has consistently denied.
The arrests come after weeks of protests that swept across Iran, triggered by public anger over economic hardship and broader political grievances. The demonstrations marked the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic in more than three years before largely subsiding following a security crackdown.
Human rights organisations say the response from Iranian authorities was severe. Rights groups have reported that thousands of people may have been killed during the unrest, though the government disputes those figures and has not released an official nationwide death toll.
International rights groups have long raised concerns about the treatment of the Bahai community in Iran. In a report published in 2024, Human Rights Watch said the authorities’ long-standing policies toward Bahais amounted to systematic persecution, which it described as a crime against humanity.
The size of Iran’s remaining Bahai population is unclear. Supporters of the community estimate that several hundred thousand Bahais may still live in the country, despite decades of emigration driven by restrictions on education, employment and religious practices.
Iranian officials maintain that all arrests are carried out in accordance with the law and deny persecuting religious minorities. Critics, however, argue that members of the Bahai faith are frequently targeted as part of broader efforts to suppress dissent, particularly during periods of political unrest.
