On August 13, 2025, a court in Doha sentenced Remy Rowhani, chairman of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly in Qatar, to five years in prison for alleged blasphemy. The 71-year-old was previously arrested at Doha International Airport on December 23, 2024, as he was about to leave the country. His detention has been extended several times since then. According to reports from the Bahá’í International Community, he is in poor health. Rowhani is accused of questioning the foundations of Islam, particularly on social media platforms. He has also been charged with cybercrime, “violation of social values,” and “spreading destructive principles.”

Members of the Baha’í religious minority in Qatar have had their residence permits not renewed, been denied certificates of good conduct, and had their family reunifications blocked. Qatar’s national curriculum also promotes religiously intolerant views about people of other faiths, including Christians, Jews, Shiite Muslims, and agnostics. In Egypt and Yemen, Bahá’ís are also subject to exclusion. In Iran, where they form the largest non-Muslim minority, they are even systematically persecuted.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued a statement on Rowhani’s fate on August 20, 2025.

“The conviction of Mr. Rowhani for blasphemy represents an alarming restriction on his freedom of religion and belief,” said USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler.

Proponents of blasphemy laws argued that such laws are necessary to protect religious freedom.

“As Mr. Rowhani’s case shows, blasphemy laws have in practice empowered the Qatari government to use them to punish those who express minority opinions,” Hartzler said.