dr steven cleasby

Bahai, husband, father of 3, GP, NHS, community builder

[The Touchline | 𝐓 @TouchlineX]

💔 One year after Diogo Jota's passing, Rúben Neves reveals he still sends him messages in their WhatsApp group.

"I still talk to him. I have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo that still exists, and we still talk there. Whenever something special happens, I save the chats in my WhatsApp archive so I can keep sending him messages."

[Baha’i International Community Brussels Office @BahaiBIC_Europe]

The Bahá'í community in Qatar faces imminent expulsion. We are grateful for the EU Special Representative for Human Rights' voice on this alarming matter, and thank her for drawing attention to the plight of a community whose roots in Qatar predate the establishment of the state itself.

#humanrights #bahai #qatar

[dr steven cleasby @drcleasby]

Qatar spent decades building its reputation. Deporting Bahá’ís threatens to undo it. https://t.co/rdQyHdPykg

[dr steven cleasby @drcleasby]

@allrockmusic Blue Monday

[Bahá'í International Community - Human Rights @BahaiBIC_Rights]

In Egypt, access to government services depends on holding a national ID card—and that card requires citizens to declare their religion. Between 2004 and 2008, "Bahá'í" was not permitted as an option, effectively rendering Bahá'ís stateless in their own country. A 2008 Supreme Court ruling introduced a compromise: Bahá'ís could place a dash (–) in the religion field. But that dash has become a tool for discrimination. Employers, universities, and government offices recognise what it means, and in a perverse reversal, many officials and institutions use the dash to deny Bahá'ís opportunities and civil rights. And there is just one office in the entire country authorised to issue ID cards to Bahá'ís—requiring multiple in-person visits and long journeys from across Egypt.

Equal civil rights should be guaranteed to every Egyptian citizen, regardless of religion.

#EgyptianBahaiRights

[Bahá'í International Community - Human Rights @BahaiBIC_Rights]

In an unexpected move, over 40 percent of Qatar’s Bahá’í population faces imminent expulsion from the country.

The Bahá’í International Community (BIC) 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.

Qatar’s small and law-abiding Baha’i community has been systematically reduced in size over decades through patterns of discrimination and pressure, including imprisonment, family separation, denial of employment, and forced departure from the country, solely on the basis of their Bahá’í identity.

In recent weeks, the situation has further deteriorated, with nearly half of the remaining Bahá’ís in the country being targeted, including through unlawful detention, threats and intimidation, and notifications of non renewal of work permits, forcing them to leave the country.

The majority of those targeted belong to long established Bahá’í families in Qatar, known to be Bahá’í for many generations and decades prior to the country’s independence, and therefore have no other homeland to turn to.

Families face the risk of separation or fragmentation, while these measures will force the closure of many successful family run businesses built over decades and cut off the livelihoods of numerous Bahá’í families.

Collectively, this is an unjustified and devastating escalation of the systematic discrimination against the Bahá’í community.

Last year, in a decision that was widely applauded everywhere, Qatar’s Court of Cassation reversed a lower court verdict against a senior Baha’i dignitary and confirmed the right of religious freedom and freedom of expression.

It should also be noted that what Bahá’ís are experiencing in Qatar stands in stark contradiction to the positive role that Gulf countries have played for many years in promoting the values of coexistence, diversity, and tolerance.

The BIC calls on Qatar’s government to refrain from using immigration tools to erase an entire religious minority and to uphold its constitutional guarantees of freedom of belief. It urges the government to stop the deportations and renew all residency permits. It also urges it to halt acts of discrimination and forced displacement, whether through intolerable pressures on daily life or through deportation, and calls for the renewal of all documents and permits.

Last year’s welcome legal precedent offers the hope that the Qatari authorities will decide to reverse this unfortunate process while it is still possible; in a time of regional difficulties, we appeal to their sense of justice and fairness.

Link to statement: https://t.co/T8vbyQi20n

[Bahá'í International Community - Human Rights @BahaiBIC_Rights]

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: https://t.co/T8vbyQi20n

[dr steven cleasby @drcleasby]

I completed the April challenge faster than 90.9% of all learners on Duolingo!

[Heki @hekitike9]

It’s hard, maybe even unfair… but I’m grateful this is happening to me here, among you. I’m not alone. Your strength and your love will be my driving force. See you again soon, Anfield ❤️

[New Order @neworder]

“Thank you to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. From our beginnings as Joy Division to the evolving journey of New Order, this accolade reflects the resilience across nearly five decades that has defined our path alongside our fans, our collaborators and those sadly no longer with us. Also to everyone who has listened, supported and continued to carry our music forward. Not bad for a couple of bands that were never entirely sure what they were doing…”
– New Order

[dr steven cleasby @drcleasby]

@Mishi_2210 127

[Bahá'ís de España @Bahai_es]

Peyvand Naimi, un joven #Bahái encarcelado en #Irán, se enfrenta al riesgo de ejecución tras sufrir dos ejecuciones simuladas, torturas prolongadas e interrogatorios para obligarle a confesar delitos que no ha cometido.

Nuestra historia completa ⬇️ https://t.co/ftsbg7Q1Cg

[Joy Division Pills @JoyDvisionPills]

Joy Division / Berlin, 1980.
📸 Mark Reeder

#joydivision 🖤🎶🖤

@PilloleCult
@pillolerock

[ian curtis pics @iancurtispics]

lan Curtis performing at the Moonlight Club, April 4th London, UK, 1980.

[dr steven cleasby @drcleasby]

@AnfieldRd96 Bob Paisley

[dr steven cleasby @drcleasby]

No. 1s

[Bahá'í International Community - Human Rights @BahaiBIC_Rights]

Passport and Personal Belongings of Yekta Fahandej Confiscated at Shiraz Airport

On 24 October 2025 Mrs. Yekta Fahandej Saadi, a Baha’i residing in Shiraz, was subjected to a thorough search and questioning by security agents at Shiraz Airport, upon returning from a short trip abroad.

During the search, her passport and certain personal belongings were confiscated without any explanation or presentation of a judicial warrant. The search and seizure of Mrs. Fahandej Saadi’s possessions were carried out solely because of her Baha’i faith.

Despite repeated inquiries, no official response has been provided, with authorities claiming to have no knowledge regarding her case.

Mrs. Fahandej Saadi has previously faced repeated harassment, arbitrary detention, searches of her home, and confiscation of her family’s property by security forces in Shiraz, simply because of her religious beliefs.

#Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #YektaFahandejSaadi

[Bahá'í International Community - Human Rights @BahaiBIC_Rights]

Adib Rahmani Arrested in Sari

On the morning of 20 October 2025, Adib Rahmani, a 25-year-old Bahá’í, was arrested by security forces in the city of Sari. Mr. Rahmani had previously been denied access to higher education in Iranian universities because of his religious beliefs.

#Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #HomeRaids #AdibRahmani

[Bahá'í International Community - Human Rights @BahaiBIC_Rights]

Intelligence Agents Raid Home of Bahá’í Couple; Negar Misaghian Arrested, Mahboub Habibi Summoned

On the morning of 20 October 2025, intelligence agents raided the home of Negar Misaghian, a Bahá’í residing in Shiraz, presenting an arrest warrant in her name. Mrs. Misaghian was arrested in the presence of her young child. During the search, agents seized multiple personal items, including the family’s laptops, mobile phones, religious images, books, and bank cards.

Later that same day, Mr. Mahboub Habibi, Mrs. Misaghian’s husband, was summoned to the Intelligence Office in Shiraz at 1:00 pm. Mrs. Misaghian was transferred to the Intelligence Ministry’s detention facility in Shiraz, known as “Unit 100.”

#Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #HomeRaids #NegarMisaghian #MahboubHabibi

[Bahá'í International Community - Human Rights @BahaiBIC_Rights]

Hengameh Sharifinia Arrested Following Search of Her Home in Tehran

On 20 October 2025, security agents searched the residence of Ms. Hengameh Sharifinia, a Bahá’í residing in Tehran. During the operation, Ms. Sharifinia was arrested by authorities and transferred to an unknown location.

#Bahai #Iran #Arrests #Imprisonments #HomeRaids #HengamehSharifinia