Jean Asselborn Expresses His Grave Concern Regarding the Situation of Religious Minorities, Particularly the Baha’is Incarcerated in Iran and in Yemen

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn has made the following statement regarding the situation of religious minorities in Iran and in Yemen:

“According to press reports, judicial authorities across Iran have reopened proceedings against at least 77 members of the Baha’i community in recent weeks. I wrote to my Iranian colleague, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on 16th June to express my grave concern regarding the treatment of the Baha’i religious community by the Iranian authorities, such as the incarceration of members of the community, which is particularly worrying in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic. I urge the Iranian authorities to do their utmost to guarantee adequate sanitary conditions within penitentiary institutions in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and to provide medical care to all prisoners at all times.

Furthermore, I am concerned by the continued incarceration of six Baha’is by the Houthis in Yemen, despite the fact that their release had been announced on 25th March. Luxembourg continues to monitor the situation of these detainees closely, together with the United Nations and the European Union. I join the Foreign Ministers of Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom in calling on the Houthis to implement their announcement to release members of the Baha’i faith.”

Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs