The Baha’i population in Turkey numbers at approximately 10,000. Like their counterparts in most countries in the region, Turkish Baha’is cannot state their religious affiliation in identity cards as the Baha’i Faith is not listed as one of the options. In 2006, a ruling permitted citizens to either leave the religion field blank, or change it by a written application, but the government continues to restrict applicant’s choices.

In an unprecedented move that represents a positive development in the dealing of the Ministry of Religious Endowments with Egypt’s Baha’i community, Sheikh Salim Abdul Jaleel - the under-secretary for religious advocacy, gave the following response to a query on the Ministry’s accusations that Egyptian Baha’is support the Zionist movement:

Several days ago, the Associated Press reported that the Yemeni authorities detained six Iranian Baha’is, for allegedly belonging to a rebel group. The news came as surprising to many; Yemen had provided a relatively safer haven for Baha’is to freely practise their faith.

Shirin Ebadi

Following the baseless accusations thrown by Tehran’s deputy prosecutor, in which he alleged that the 7 arrested Baha'i leaders forged links with Israel, Shirin Ebadi - the famed lawyer, human rights activist and Nobel Laureate - made a brave decision to defend them before court.