Raquel Ataeian Arrested in Iran Over Baha’i Faith
Security forces raid her home, seize belongings in Qaemshahr
Iranian security forces have arrested Raquel Ataeian, a member of the Baha’i faith, at her home in Qaemshahr, northern Iran, and transferred her to an unknown location, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.
The arrest took place on Tuesday when agents raided Ataeian’s residence. During the operation, they confiscated personal belongings, including her laptop, mobile phones, books, and items belonging to other family members. The authorities have not disclosed the reason for her arrest, her whereabouts, or whether any formal charges have been brought against her.
Ataeian has previously been targeted by Iranian government agencies, facing what human rights groups call “fabricated cases” tied to her religious beliefs.
Members of the Baha’i community in Iran are subjected to widespread and institutionalized persecution. They are often barred from higher education, employment, and freedom of religious expression. The Iranian regime routinely accuses Baha’is of espionage or anti-state activities—claims consistently refuted by the Baha’i International Community.
Over the past two years, Iran has escalated its crackdown on Baha’is, imprisoning dozens and seizing property without due process. Human Rights Watch, in its latest annual report, labeled the ongoing repression of Iran’s Baha’i population as a “crime against humanity.”
Ataeian’s arrest highlights the continuing deterioration of religious freedom in Iran and the government’s intensifying efforts to silence minority faith communities.
