Baháʼí Solidarity in the Face of State-led Persecution

In this episode, Manaeha and Matt interview Roja Fazaeli as well as a member of the Baháʼí community. We refer to him as “A” as he requested to remain anonymous due to the possible threat this interview might pose to himself and his family.

Roja Fazaeli is an Associate Professor in Islamic Civilisation, Near & Middle Eastern Studies at Trinity College Dublin. “A” is a refugee living in the U.S. We provide an overview of the Baháʼí Faith and its emergence in Iran. Then we explore why the Iranian state sees the Baháʼí as a fundamental threat to its regime. The state is different from its people, and there is hope for the Baháʼí community, especially within the younger generations, to resist anti-Baháʼí propaganda. We end with ways the Baháʼí create a sense of community in their daily lives; this connection offers a way to resist the horrible oppression and constant persecution they face.