Overnight Destruction of Historic Mashhad Church; Another Sign of Erasure of Christian Heritage in Iran

The Evangelical Church of Mashhad, one of the few monuments of Iran’s Protestant community and a registered work on the country’s national heritage list, was completely demolished in the early morning hours of June 4th in an operation that, according to witnesses, lasted only a few hours. This incident occurred at a time when cultural heritage activists had long warned of the danger of destruction to this historic building, and the officials’ silence regarding the cause and manner of this action has now raised new questions about the fate of Christian heritage in Iran.

Reports indicate that the demolition operation began in the early morning hours and was completed before sunrise. A witness who had documented years of the building’s deterioration and condition stated that the destruction took place between approximately 2 and 4 a.m., and hours later the site was brought under control with no possibility of recording it. According to him, prior to the start of operations, changes had been made to the building’s entrance that, in the view of local activists, could have been a sign of preparation for executing this action.

The destruction of this church is particularly significant because the building was not merely a religious structure, but rather part of the historical memory of the city of Mashhad and a symbol of the long-standing presence of the Evangelical Christian community in northeastern Iran. This building, which was constructed during the First Pahlavi period, was registered on Iran’s list of national monuments in 2005 and was recognized architecturally for its cruciform ceiling and distinctive design. International cultural heritage sources until recently introduced it as a registered national work.

Images released in 2025 show that the church had been abandoned in recent months and was not being used for public visits; a situation that many religious minorities’ rights activists view as a reflection of broader restrictions on the activities of Protestant churches in Iran.

This church was also a reminder of the historical role of the Evangelical community in developing social and medical services in Mashhad. Among the most important legacies of this community was its participation in the establishment of the American Hospital of Mashhad; an institution considered one of the first modern medical establishments in the city and played a role in shaping the region’s medical infrastructure.

The destruction of the Evangelical Church of Mashhad occurs amid circumstances in which over the past four decades, a significant number of properties, schools, medical centers, and places of worship belonging to Christian communities in Iran have either been confiscated, repurposed, or gradually removed from Christian community access. Observers of religious minorities’ affairs believe that the destruction or closure of such buildings is not merely the loss of several structures, but also threatens part of the history of Christian presence in Iran.

At the time of writing this report, no official explanation has been released regarding the permit, cause, or responsibility for the destruction of this historic work. This is while the loss of a registered national building naturally entails the expectation of immediate accountability from the responsible authorities in the field of cultural heritage and protection of historic monuments; a response that has not yet been provided.

For this report, a combination of Persian and English hashtags that have both journalistic character and are usable for Christian, human rights, and cultural heritage audiences: