Baha’is believe freedom of religion and conscience is the intrinsic right of each individual and is central to human development. It lies at the heart of an individual’s integrity and identity.

The Baha’i writings state that every person has the moral obligation to search independently for truth. This search is the highest expression of human will and reason. Baha’is believe adherence to religion or belief must never be coerced. In their interpersonal relationships, Baha’is are guided by Baha’u’llah’s call to “consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.”

In October 2005, the Baha’i International Community published a statement on religious freedom, entitled “Freedom to Believe: Upholding the Standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

In the United States, the Baha’i community advocates for religious freedom through such collaborative networks as the Congressional Working Group on Religious Freedom and the Washington Coalition for International Religious Freedom.

Learn more about the persecution of Baha'is in Iran and Egypt.