Mr. Remy Rowhani, a Qatari citizen and member of the Bahá'í community, was detained at Hamad International Airport in Doha on December 23, 2024, and subsequently imprisoned due to his Bahá'í beliefs. After enduring a month of unjust and arbitrary imprisonment, during which he became seriously ill while in custody, Mr. Rowhani was released from prison in Qatar on January 24, 2025.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of discrimination against Bahá'ís in Qatar. Over the past several years, individuals and families of various nationalities have faced deportation and other forms of persecution solely based on their adherence to the Bahá'í Faith. In April 2021, a court issued a ruling in absentia against Mr. Rowhani, sentencing him to six months' imprisonment and a fine of QAR100,000 (approximately $27,500) for "collecting contributions without a permit," a charge related to his role as Chair of the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly.
The Bahá'í International Community has expressed deep concern over these developments, urging Qatari authorities to cease their discriminatory practices and uphold the rights of Bahá'ís in the country.
The international community continues to monitor the situation, advocating for the protection of religious freedoms and the fair treatment of all individuals, regardless of their faith.
BACKGROUND AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Mr. Rowhani has served Qatar with distinction for decades, including as the Director of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Middle East and North Africa regional office. He also served voluntarily as the Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Baha’is of Qatar, a role that supports the spiritual and administrative needs of the Baha’i community.
His imprisonment stemmed from a prejudicial court case adjudicated in absentia in April 2021, with the ruling later upheld by an appeals court in May 2022. The charges against him were baseless, lacking evidence, and aimed at targeting his religious service. Throughout the legal proceedings, he was denied due process, further highlighting systemic religious discrimination.
The unjust treatment of Mr. Rowhani is not an isolated case but part of a broader, systematic campaign against the Baha’i community in Qatar. The Baha’i International Community (BIC) has documented numerous human rights violations, including:
Forced family separations
Expulsions from educational institutions
Discrimination in employment and denial of “good conduct” certificates, making Baha’is ineligible for jobs
Desecration and destruction of the Baha’i cemetery in Doha
Unjust deportations and blacklisting, often without explanation
International Condemnation and Calls for Reform
The Baha’i International Community and human rights advocates have strongly condemned Qatar’s actions. Saba Haddad, Representative of the BIC to the UN, stated that Mr. Rowhani’s imprisonment proves Qatar’s continued efforts to erase the Baha’i community’s presence and denies them fundamental rights.
Dr. Haddad also criticized Qatar for using opaque administrative processes to disguise its intolerance toward Baha’is, calling it a blatant violation of human rights and a contradiction of Qatar’s commitments to diversity and inclusion. She further pointed out that other countries in the region have made positive strides toward religious pluralism, making Qatar’s actions stand out as particularly regressive.
Despite exhausting all efforts to engage with Qatari authorities, the Baha’i community remains open to constructive dialogue to end this discrimination and promote religious freedom in Qatar
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO CLEAR THE WRONGDOING NATURE OF HIS IMPRISONMENT
To clear the record of Mr. Remy Rowhani and acknowledge the wrongful nature of his imprisonment, the Qatari authorities should take the following legal and administrative steps.
1. Annul the court conviction and expunge the charges of the Qatar Ministry of Justice or relevant judicial authority should overturn the 2021 conviction and void the 2022 appeals court ruling.
A formal retrial or review should be conducted, ensuring due process, with an official ruling that exonerates Mr. Rowhani of all charges.
The legal system should recognize that the charges were unjust and based on religious discrimination.
2. To remove his name from any blacklists
of the Qatar Ministry of Interior, should ensure that Mr. Rowhani’s name is removed from any government blacklists that prevent travel, employment, or residency.
If he has been placed on a watchlist for national security or immigration reasons, an official order should be issued to clear his status.
3. Issue a formal government apology a public statement or formal letter of apology from the Qatari government which should acknowledge that his imprisonment was wrongful and unjust. The Emir of Qatar, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or Ministry of Interior should recognize the error and commit to protecting religious freedom.
4. To restore citizenship and civil rights (If affected) if Mr. Rowhani faced loss of citizenship, residency rights, or employment restrictions, these should be fully reinstated and any travel restrictions or deportation orders should be formally lifted.
5. To offer compensation for wrongful imprisonment which Qatar should follow international human rights practices by offering financial compensation for the harm caused by wrongful imprisonment.
Compensation should cover legal fees, lost income, and damages for the distress suffered during his imprisonment.
6. There must be reform of laws and administrative practices to prevent future discrimination, the government should review policies affecting Baha’is in Qatar and ensure that religious discrimination is explicitly prohibited in legal frameworks.
Human rights monitoring mechanisms should be strengthened to prevent similar abuses in the future.
7. The Qatar government should establish an official channel to engage in dialogue with the Baha’i International Community (BIC) to address discrimination concerns.
A liaison or special representative should be appointed to ensure that issues affecting Baha’is in Qatar are addressed transparently.
By taking these steps, Qatar can demonstrate its commitment to justice, human rights, and religious freedom. This will also help restore international confidence in Qatar’s legal and human rights record.
K.T.Maran Social, Environmental & Animal Activist
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