Freedom of religion: UN expert urges Yemen to halt systematic harassment of Bahá’í community 

GENEVA (4 October 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, today called on the authorities in Yemen to put an end to the systematic harassment of the Bahá’í population in the country, including arbitrary arrests and detentions. He also called for the release of three leaders of the Bahá’í Yemeni community detained over two months ago.

“No one should be persecuted based on their religion or belief and neither should they be targeted when belonging to religious minorities,” the human rights expert said. “Random arrests, detentions, raids of their homes and offices as well as confiscation of electronic devices and significant sum of money are simply unacceptable.”

“The Yemeni authorities should also immediately release all detained Bahá’ís who seem to be targeted based on their religion,” Mr. Bielefeldt said recalling the cases of Nadim Tawfiq Al-Sakkaf, Nader Tawfiq Al-Sakkaf and Kaiwan Mohamed Ali Qadri, imprisoned since 10 August 2016.

The three Bahá’í leaders were detained following a mass arrest of 60 Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís across the country at a nine-day event of moral and educational youth programmes in Jud Organization building in Sana’a. Most of the arrested people were subsequently released but them.

“Any arrest or detention based on the exercise of the freedom of religion is arbitrary,” the Special Rapporteur underscored. “It is worrying to learn that these arrests were allegedly instructed by the prosecutor in the country.”

“The authorities must also unlock the Bahá’í centre and allow the Bahá’ís to access it,” he said. “Persons belonging to religious minorities, including members of the Bahá’ís, must be ensured their rights to freedom of religion and belief.”

The human rights expert also drew attention to the case of Hamid Kamali Bin Haydara arrested in 2013, and remains incarcerated in the National Security Prison for ‘compromising the independence of the Republic of Yemen’, including spreading the Bahá’í faith in the Republic of Yemen. His trial has been postponed on numerous occasions up till September 2016.

“I remain concerned that the due process for Mr. Kamali’s case has fallen below the fair trial standards as guaranteed by international human rights law,” Mr. Bielefeldt said while stressing that Mr. Kamali is suffering from serious health conditions that require proper medical attention

The Special Rapporteur reminded the Yemeni authorities that they must uphold their international obligations and do all they can to protect all citizens in the country under any circumstances.

Mr. Bielefeldt’s call has been endorsed by the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Ms. Rita Izsák-Ndiaye and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

The Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

Learn more, log on to:
Freedom of religion: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-religion-or-belief
Minority issues: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-minority-issues
Arbitrary detention: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/wg-arbitrary-detention

Check the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief: http://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/declaration-elimination-all-forms-intolerance-and-discrimination

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Yemen:  http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/yemen

For more information and media requests please contact: Ms. Maken Tzeggai (+41 22 917 9889 / mtzeggai@ohchr.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Mr. Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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