Qatari authorities have discriminated against members of the Baha'i faith, including with unlawful detentions, based solely on their religious identity, Human Rights Watch said today.
Qatari authorities arrested and detained Remy Rowhani on April 28, 2025. Rowhani is the chair of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Qatar, an elected body that governs the affairs of Baha'is in Qatar. Rowhani was previously released from a prior detention in January 2025 following the completion of a one-month prison sentence.
"The Baha'i community of Qatar has endured decades of government discrimination and intimidation, and authorities have consistently ignored community leaders repeated efforts to engage the government in dialogue and seek redress," said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "This state-sponsored discrimination poses a threat to the very existence of the Baha'i community of Qatar."
Qatar's government has discriminated against Baha'is in Qatar for decades, with hundreds of people harmed by a pattern of punishment and discriminatory policies. The government has deported as many as 14 members of the group for no apparent reason other than individuals belonging to the Baha'i faith in cases Human Rights Watch documented from 2003 to 2025. Qatari authorities have also previously terminated the employment of a Baha'i member and refused to grant a certificate of good conduct, which is required for employment in Qatar, to four members of the group.
