Women face unique challenges simply because of their gender. The double marginalization they experience must be brought into conversations and uniquely addressed. Women in Iran, especially Baha'i women, have faced severe persecution for decades. This persecution has taken many forms, including unjust, arbitrary imprisonment, torture, death, social isolation, denial of higher education, and even desecration of burial sites and the bodies of the deceased. Over the last year, the Iranian government has systematically targeted women in response to the Women, Life, Freedom movement and, at the same time, noticeably targeted and increased the persecution of Baha'i women, often using discriminatory laws and policies to justify their actions.

Until a couple of years ago, Baha'i men had been targeted more than Baha'i women. However, a little over two years ago, a significant shift became noticeable. One indicator of this shift was that about two-thirds of Baha’i prisoners were women. At first, this seemed like an anomaly, but the persistence of this percentage over two years strongly suggests that there exists a deliberate government policy to target Baha'i women. An informal survey of those targeted reveals that these women are usually ones playing a role in Baha'i community-building activities such as children's classes and junior youth groups. Hence, these women are not just victims, but also leaders and educators, making their persecution even more tragic.

Despite the challenges they face, women, including Baha'i women in Iran, continue to engage in resilient ways to uphold their fundamental human right to religious belief and freedom. They are a powerful force for change, and their stories are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Speakers:

Hilary Miller- Policy Analyst at USCIRF covering Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Houthis in Yemen

Lou Ann Sabatier- Co-founded of FoRB Women's Alliance

Marjan Keypour (Greenblatt) - Founder and Director of the Alliance for Rights of All Minorities (ARAM)

Moderator: Tschika McBean Okosi - Human Rights Officer at the US Baha’i Office of Public Affairs