World Christian Organization Report: Iran Ranked Ninth Most Christian-Persecuting Country in the World
According to the annual report of the international Christian organization “Open Doors,” Iran was identified as the ninth most Christian-persecuting country in the world.
The release of the annual report by the international Christian organization “Open Doors” on Wednesday, January 15, corresponding to December 26 in the Persian calendar, shows that the Islamic Republic of Iran is recognized as the ninth “Christian-persecuting” country in the world, maintaining the same ranking as last year with no change.
The “Open Doors” organization, which examines the situation of Christians under oppression and persecution in 50 countries worldwide, identified North Korea as the first Christian-persecuting country in its annual report, followed by Somalia, Yemen, and Libya in subsequent rankings. Iran was also identified as the ninth Christian-persecuting country in this report.
Before Iran, the countries Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, and Pakistan rank higher, and after Iran, Afghanistan ranks as the tenth country, followed by India, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Mali, and China in subsequent rankings. Iran has been ranked eighth and ninth in recent years due to persecution of Christians, and no change has occurred in this ranking compared to last year, indicating the continuation of suppression, harassment, persecution, and discrimination by the Islamic Republic government against Christians.
In its annual report, this Christian organization cited various sources, including Article 18 organization, which referenced numerous cases of suppression, torture, and discrimination against Christians. Among these, reference was made to the arrest of at least 46 Christian citizens during Christmas of last year (2023).
The report also referenced Articles 499 and 500 of the Islamic Penal Code, which are used to suppress religious minorities. According to this article, eight Christian citizens received a combined sentence of 45 years in prison in late June of this year. In its report, Open Doors continues that the number of Christians sentenced to imprisonment and various punishments last year increased from 16 to 43 persons, and the number of detainees decreased from 122 in 2023 to 113 in 2024.
While referring to released Christian prisoners, the Open Doors organization wrote: “This freedom does not mean the removal of injustice. These individuals have been pardoned but not acquitted, and the laws used against them remain in place.” Additionally, the report emphasized: “Armenians and Assyrians, while recognized as minorities in Iran’s constitutional law, are still considered second-class citizens. If they jointly participate with their Christian converts in religious ceremonies or speak about the Bible, they become targets of security forces and are sentenced to prison. Christian converts are also not officially recognized and are often arrested and persecuted on security charges.”
At the end of its report, the Open Doors organization referred to the commitments of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding international conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees in Article 18 freedom of thought, conscience, and religion for all people.
