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Doha, Qatar — August 16, 2025
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly denounced the five-year prison sentence handed down to Remi Rowhani, a prominent Baha’i religious dignitary and chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is in Qatar. The New York-based rights organization described the charges as “abusive” and rooted solely in Rowhani’s religious identity and peaceful expression of faith.
Charges and Legal Basis
Rowhani, 71, was convicted by a Doha court on August 13 under multiple statutes, including:
- Article 259 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes casting doubt on Islamic tenets or promoting another religion, carrying a maximum sentence of five years.
- Article 8 of the 2014 Cybercrime Prevention Law, for allegedly violating social principles via digital platforms.
- Article 47(b) of the 1979 Law on Publications and Publishing, for disseminating material deemed to promote “destructive principles”.
The charges stemmed from social media posts linked to Rowhani’s phone number and email address, which celebrated Qatari and Muslim holidays and promoted Baha’i values such as justice, gender equality, and service to humanity.
Due Process Violations
HRW reported significant procedural irregularities during Rowhani’s trial:
- His legal team was denied access to court documents detailing the charges and evidence.
- Defense counsel was barred from participating in the initial hearing held in mid-June.
- Rowhani was held in pretrial detention since his arrest on April 28.
These actions, HRW asserts, violate Articles 14 and 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantee the right to a fair trial and freedom of religion.
Broader Pattern of Discrimination
The July 2025 UN expert report echoed HRW’s concerns, highlighting a broader pattern of discrimination against the Baha’i community in Qatar. The report criticized the state’s refusal to recognize the Baha’i faith and its followers, framing it as a breach of international protections for religious freedom.
In a separate May 2025 report, HRW documented systemic abuses against Baha’is in Qatar, including:
- Arbitrary deportations
- Denial of legal rights
- Demonization of the faith based on religious rulings that incite hostility
International Response
Michael Page, HRW’s deputy Middle East director, stated:
“Imprisoning Remy Rowhani for five years, on a series of abusive charges rooted solely in his religious identity and activities within the Qatari Baha’i community, is a serious breach of human rights law”.
The Baha’i International Community also condemned the verdict, calling it an attack on the principles of freedom of conscience and religious pluralism.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Bekim Bruka | JURIST Staff, US
Doha, Qatar skyline Image by ekrem from Pixabay
