Alessandro Benedetti

In an unexpected move, over 40 percent of Qatar’s Bahá’í population faces imminent expulsion from the country. The Bahá’í International Community is alarmed that the Qatari government is carrying out a deliberate campaign of religious erasure aimed at one of the religious communities that has been present in the region for over 100 years, and whose presence in Qatar—well before the establishment of the modern Qatari state—is documented as spanning many decades. Read full statement: bic.org/news/sudden-ex…

The UK is closely tracking the dire situation for religious minorities in Iran. This includes abhorrent reports that Baha’is have been subject to torture and mock execution. We will continue to pursue accountability.

Thank you to MEP Evin Incir for powerfully raising the urgent cases of two Baha'i youth, Peyvand and Borna Naimi, and for highlighting the ongoing pattern of scapegoating of the Baha'i community in Iran. #bahai #europeanparliament #iran #humanrights @BahaiBIC_Rights

Thank you @USCIRF for highlighting the persecution of the Baha'i community in Egypt in your April 2026 update. From the USCIRF report: 1. On systematic exclusion from civic life: "Baha'is' exclusion from the existing personal status law results in their inability to legally marry, obtain residency permits and birth certificates, pursue formal education, or gather for worship." 2. On the UN's January 2026 intervention: "In January 2026, multiple United Nations human rights experts called on the Egyptian government to address systematic discrimination against Baha'is, including confiscation of cemeteries, denial of legal recognition and identity documents, and harassment of community members." 3. On Al-Azhar's role in shaping state policy: "Al-Azhar scholars have argued that recognizing the Baha'i faith would 'rupture the fabric of the community' and 'undermine the public order' in Egypt. This decades-long position has shaped the Egyptian government's discriminatory policies against Baha'is." #Egypt #Bahai #HumanRights

The #euyouthweek starting tomorrow in Brussels is a chance for youth from all over Europe to reflect on the role that young people can play as protagonists of positive change in society. We are looking forward to contributing to these important conversations in the coming week and beyond. #youth

Thank you @Almanassa_AR for the coverage noting that Egyptian Bahá’ís are not seeking special treatment, but rather full citizenship rights, following the Court of Cassation’s overturning of two rulings that had recognised the marriage of two Bahá’ís. #EgyptianBahaiRights

Peyvand Naimi est en danger. Torturé. Isolé. Forcé à avouer des crimes qu’il n’a pas commis. Son seul tort : être Baha’i. Soutenons-le ! Lui et tous ceux ainsi injustement emprisonnés. Continuons à défendre sans relâche les droits humains et la liberté de croire.

It was a pleasure for our office to participate once again in the Forum for the Future of Agriculture this week. The Forum continues to provide a meaningful and thoughtful space for dialogue on sustainable agriculture and environmental challenges. This year’s discussions recgonised that agriculture in the EU does not operate in isolation from the broader global context. European farmers are therefore navigating not only local realities, but also wider global developments that shape environmental pressures, impact their livelihoods, and affect the overall resilience of our shared food system. The BIC’s contribution has similarly been highlighting that today’s global food system is deeply interconnected and interwoven with international trade, environmental policies, and economic dynamics. This raises an important question which we have been exploring together with others: If we acknowledge that we are operating within a single interconnected global system, how can we reimagine it to place interdependence at its core? #ForumForAg @ForumForAg

As #Passover and #Easter celebrate liberation from slavery and victory over death, many still face execution for their faith. #PeyvandNaimi, a young #Baha’i in #Iran, is being tortured and faces death on false charges. He needs our voice. Let us strive for his #Freedom. #IRFBA

La Comunidad Internacional Bahaí trata de salvar contra el reloj a Peyvand Naeimi, un iraní de 30 años que, según denuncian, ha sufrido al menos dos simulacros de ejecución y toda clase de torturas. Forma parte de una minoría religiosa perseguida en Irán social.elpais.com/95ergg

Last week, our office, together with colleagues from Germany’s national office, met with MEP @k_langensiepen. As European societies experience growing levels of loneliness, questions around societal cohesion are becoming increasingly urgent. Our conversation highlighted the importance of addressing loneliness not only by creating spaces for occasional interaction, but by fostering grassroots processes of building local communities characterized by a sense of belonging and ownership of one’s surroundings. We look forward to continuing the exchange with MEP Katrin Langensiepen and other stakeholders engaged in the social cohesion discourse. #LonelyEUproject #socialcohesion

Thank you to MEP and Chair of the Delegation for relations with Iran, @HNeumannMEP, for raising the urgent case of Peyvand Naimi. #iran #bahai #europeanparliament #humanrights

Thank you to MEP @gahler_michael for shedding light on this urgent case!

I strongly condemn the treatment of Baha’i youth, Peyvand Naimi, subjected to torture and mock executions in an effort to extract false confessions. The continued persecution of Baha’is in Iran is unacceptable. I demand to immediate release Peyvand Naimi and all detained Baha’is!

Folter, Scheinhinrichtungen und Dauerverhör: Der junge #Bahái #PeyvandNaimi wird vom islamischen Terrorregime im #Iran unter falschen Anschuldigungen festgehalten und befindet sich in akuter Lebensgefahr! Das Regime muss endlich gestoppt werden! ots.at/presseaussendu…

Thank you to Member of European Parliament, @hildebentele, for drawing attention to the urgent case of Bahá’í youth, Peyvand Naimi, among many others. #iran #bahai #europeanparliament #humanrights

Thank you to the Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with Iran, @Daniel_Attard for highlighting the urgent case of Peyvand Naimi at the @Europarl_EN on Wednesday evening. #iran #bahai #europeanparliament #humanrights

Thank you to the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, @KajsaOllongren, for shedding light on this concerning case!

Thank you to @NicosPapandreou for speaking out on the case of Peyvand Naimi, a Bahá’í youth facing imminent execution. Your consistent support for the Bahá’í community of Iran helps bring much-needed attention to those facing persecution. #iran #bahai #europeanparliament #humanrights

Thank you @HNeumannMEP for raising this important case!