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Samuel Bakhtiyari

“Zionist Christians, Crusader Pedestrian System, Fifth Column of the West, Corrupt Evangelical Movement, and dozens of similar terms have emerged from the vocabulary of Iranian security authorities to describe Iranian Christians, especially Persian-speaking Christians. From the early days of the Islamic Republic, Iranian Christians, particularly evangelical Christians (known as “sheep of Christ”), have been the target of attacks by security forces. Although in recent years there have been few incidents involving the country’s Armenian and Assyrian minorities, evangelical Christians have been heavily suppressed. Religious and security authorities of the Islamic Republic view the issue of evangelical Christians with an extremely security-oriented perspective. They believe that not addressing the issue of evangelical Christians will encourage others to convert to Christianity.”

The peak of the confrontation between Iran’s security forces and the Persian-speaking church, especially the Rabani community church, dates back to the early years of the 1970s, when several high-ranking priests were killed. Hossein Soodmand, who converted from Islam to Christianity and became a priest, was officially recognized as an apostate and executed by the judicial system. Three other priests, Michaelian, Mahdi Dibaj, and Haik Hovsepian Mehr, were also brutally murdered. These attacks have continued to this day, with fluctuations. However, in certain historical periods when there was a possibility of closer relations between Iran and the West, there have been hopes for improving the situation of Iranian Christians. This perspective may seem simplistic, as it assumes that because Western countries are Christian, closer relations with them will lead to better conditions for Christian minorities in the country. Although this view may seem naive, it has many supporters. For example, at first glance, the views of

Nuclear talks between Iran and world powers were moments that once again gave hope for improving the human rights situation and the situation of religious minorities in Iran. In the context of these nuclear talks, it was widely believed that after reaching a final agreement with the world powers, not only would there be an improvement in the economic situation, but also a slight improvement in human rights. Some human rights activists were hopeful that during the negotiations, pressure on religious minorities, especially Christians, would decrease. However, with the attack of security forces on home churches and the arrest of many Christian converts during the early days of 2015 and Christmas, this belief quickly faded. While talks were taking place between Iran and world powers regarding the nuclear issue, security forces in Tehran and some cities arrested dozens of Christian converts, causing the hope for improvement in the situation of Persian-speaking Christians to quickly fade. The silence of international organizations and Western countries, and their turning a blind eye to these arrests, sent a clear message: the

Repeated confirmation by Western authorities, especially the President of the United States, regarding negotiations on the nuclear issue, has sparked great concerns among the Persian-speaking Christian community. For example, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) says that Naghmeh Abedini is asking Congress not to forget her husband. Mrs. Abedini, with a hopeless tone, asks each member of Congress to also pay attention to the situation of her husband and other Christian prisoners in Iran. According to Naghmeh Abedini, perhaps the key to Saeed’s freedom is in the hands of Congress.

Furthermore, during the attack of the prison guards on political and ideological prisoners held in ward 350, Father Farshid Fathi, another well-known Christian prisoner, was one of those who had another case opened against him by the judiciary during this time period. He was accused of keeping alcoholic beverages while in prison and was sentenced to an additional year in prison in Evin prison, ward 350. Alongside these well-known names, another example of an Iranian Christian who has been detained or faced increased harassment and abuse in prison during this time is Ibrahim Firouzi. This Christian convert, who is being held in ward 10 of Rajai Shahr prison with non-political and sometimes dangerous criminals, has gone on two hunger strikes in recent months to protest against his harsh conditions in prison.

According to some Christian leaders in Iran, during negotiations there was a great hope for improvement of the situation, but this hope gradually turned into disappointment. In many cities, due to lack of proper reporting, there were more cases of arrests. Occasionally, news of security forces raiding house churches and arresting Christian leaders in cities such as Ahvaz, Karaj, Shiraz, and Isfahan would be published, indicating the serious determination of the security system to confront the spread of Christianity in Iran. At the same time, Hojat al-Islam Ali Younesi, former Minister of Intelligence and current advisor to the President on religious and ethnic minorities, warned that the Islamic Republic does not allow any religion or sect to preach or proselytize. Many believed that this warning was directed towards Iranian Christians.

On February 14, 2015, while presenting the report on the human rights situation in Iran in Geneva, Ahmed Shaheed declared that the human rights situation in Iran has worsened compared to previous years. The report also mentioned the dire situation of religious minorities in Iran. The US Department of State also warned the Islamic Republic authorities about severe control and persecution of followers of different religions in Iran, especially the Persian-speaking Christian community, in its publication of the International Religious Freedom Report. Although according to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, the practice of Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism is allowed, according to Islamic penal law, any Muslim citizen who converts to another religion is punishable by death.

The behavior of security forces after reaching a nuclear agreement also indicates the continuation of the same previous trend. In August 2015, security officials in plain clothes raided a house church in Karaj and arrested a group of Christian converts who had gathered for worship and prayer.

Regarding others, one of the security websites reports with threatening literature about the identification of several Christian activists inside the country. “These individuals, whose activities are in cities such as Rasht, Tehran, and Karaj, with the cooperation of the occupying Zionist regime and the distribution of distorted books under the title of the Gospel, intended to destroy and instill the despicable culture of Zionist Christianity in the minds of young believers in Islamic Iran, who have been identified by the vigilant soldiers of Imam Mahdi,” this type of literature prepares the mind of everyone for the harshest punishment.

Currently, dozens of Iranian Christians are imprisoned or awaiting trial solely because of their religious beliefs, and there is concern that with the resolution of the nuclear issue, the suppression of Christians will continue with even greater intensity by the security apparatus.

In the first three months of 2015, according to the report of Open Doors organization, the name of the Islamic Republic of Iran was among the top 9 countries that persecute Christians, alongside Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The performance of security forces also reinforces the belief that with the resolution of the nuclear issue and less external pressure, the security system will have more power to suppress dissidents.

Revolutionary courts, without any hesitation, are prosecuting Christian converts. From the beginning of last year until now, more than 18 Christian converts have been sentenced to prison. Most of these individuals have been sentenced to prison under Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code; charges include propaganda against the ruling system and collaboration with opposition groups, resulting in a total prison sentence of 24 years for these individuals.

Despite the pressures and difficulties that have gripped the Christian community in Iran, according to reports from the Christian news agency, the growth of the Church in Iran is greater than any other point in the world. It is estimated that out of Iran’s population of 78 million, there are between 200,000 to 500,000 new Christian converts. Although this number may seem insignificant compared to Iran’s population, the important point here is that these individuals have converted to Christianity in less than 15 years. The iron-fisted policies of the security forces have not been conducive to the growth of Persian-speaking Christians in Iran. Contrary to the security system, many Muslim Iranians are supportive of Christians, and many non-Christian Iranians speak of Jesus Christ and the Bible with respect.

It may be difficult for non-believers to accept, but the church has always thrived on persecution. The history of Christianity testifies to this claim.

Sources:

Iranian Christian News Agency (Mahabat News)

Voice of Christian Martyrs News Agency (VOM)

Barnabas Fund

CBN News Agency