Haifa's Baháʼí Gardens: A Beacon of Religious Freedom Amidst Widespread Middle Eastern Persecution

Haifa, Israel – The Baháʼí Gardens, a prominent UNESCO World Heritage site and the spiritual and administrative heart of the Baháʼí Faith, have recently become a focal point in online discourse regarding regional narratives. A tweet from the account "Hamas Atrocities" highlighted the perceived misrepresentation of the gardens as part of "beautiful Palestine," drawing attention to the stark contrast in religious freedom experienced by Baháʼís in Israel compared to other parts of the Middle East.

The tweet, dated July 12, 2025, stated, > "New levels of ridiculousness in the pro-palestine propaganda! Showing the Bahai Gardens of Haifa as 'beautiful palestine'? You mean the Bahai faith that, in the Middle East, can only be freely followed in Israel?" This post underscores the unique status of the Baháʼí community within Israel.

The Baháʼí Gardens, officially known as the Terraces of the Baháʼí Faith, are located on the northern slope of Mount Carmel in Haifa. They encompass the Shrine of the Báb, the resting place of the faith's Prophet-Herald, and serve as the seat of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body of the Baháʼí Faith. The Baháʼí World Centre's establishment in the region predates the modern State of Israel, tracing back to the banishment of Baháʼu'lláh, the faith's founder, to Acre (Akko) by Ottoman authorities in 1868.

While the Baháʼí Faith enjoys protection and religious freedom in Israel, its adherents face severe and systematic persecution in many other Middle Eastern countries. In Iran, the faith's birthplace, Baháʼís have endured decades of state-sponsored oppression, including arrests, imprisonment, executions, property confiscation, and denial of education and employment, particularly intensified after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Iranian government frequently accuses Baháʼís of being spies linked to Israel, a claim widely refuted by human rights organizations.

Similar, though varying, levels of persecution are reported in other Muslim-majority nations such as Egypt, Yemen, and Morocco, where the Baháʼí Faith is often not officially recognized as a legitimate religion, and its followers are viewed as apostates from Islam. This regional context highlights Israel as a rare exception where the Baháʼí community can openly practice its faith and maintain its global administrative headquarters without fear of state-sanctioned repression. The Baháʼí community in Israel maintains a policy of non-involvement in local politics and does not proselytize to Israeli citizens, focusing instead on its global administrative and spiritual responsibilities.