Annual Report on the Situation of Christians in Iran Released by International Christian Organizations
International Christian organizations have released their sixth annual report on the situation of Christians in Iran.
On Monday, February 19, 2024, corresponding to the 30th of Bahman 1402 in the Persian calendar, the organization “Article 18” in collaboration with three international Christian organizations “Open Doors,” “MEC,” and “Christian Solidarity Worldwide,” released their sixth annual report on the situation of Christians in Iran, detailing continued suppression, intensified arrests, and ideological investigations.
The report is titled “Violations of Christians’ Rights in Iran” and is also named “Hidden Victims” because many Christians, particularly citizens who have converted from Islam to Christianity and are victims of state repression, wish to remain anonymous for security reasons.
The annual report from the four international Christian organizations comprises 40 pages covering the suppression and violation of Christians’ rights. According to the report, the number of arrested Christians in the past year increased from 134 to 166 compared to the previous year, with possession of the Bible being the primary reason for arrests.
Many house churches in recent years have been attacked and shut down by the Islamic Republic government, and attendees at house churches have been harassed, persecuted, and detained. Their personal belongings, including mobile phones, laptops, and Bibles, have been confiscated and used as evidence against them in court.
According to the released report, arrest statistics show an upward trend in Christians facing harassment and persecution, with their numbers doubling between 2021 and 2022. Additionally, 103 people were detained in 2023, 22 of whom were convicted and 21 are currently serving sentences in prison. They have been detained for their Christian faith and peaceful activities, and have been imprisoned on charges of “propaganda against the system” and “actions against national security” without any documentation or evidence.
The four international Christian institutions that prepared and released the report consider Christians’ access to civil and human rights within the framework of implementing freedoms and human rights for all Iranian citizens. According to their statements, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians are among the officially recognized minorities under Iran’s Constitution, though they face limitations and discrimination. However, citizens who have converted from Islam to Christianity, like Baháʼís, Mandaeans, and followers of Yarsan, are not recognized as members of minorities and have been stripped of their citizenship rights.
In the report released by the international Christian organizations, it states: “The Iranian Christian community, which includes a large number of churches and Christian institutions, released and signed a joint statement last September on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, calling for an end to a government of discrimination and injustice for all Iranians.”
Furthermore, the aforementioned report, while citing various testimonies from Christian prisoners, states that the Islamic Republic government has consistently violated international covenants and treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Iran is a signatory, and has trampled upon the fundamental rights of prisoners.
Arbitrary arrests, deprivation of education and employment, and pressure to leave the country are among the violations addressed by international Christian organizations in the released report. According to this report, Christians continue to be denied Persian-language churches and lack security even in their own homes when worshipping with friends. Moreover, the Islamic Republic government, disregarding the fact that ideological investigation is prohibited in Iran’s Constitution, increasingly forces Christians to participate in Islamic ideological classes.
The four Christian organizations mentioned concluded their report with requests regarding the Iranian government and the international community, stating: “We call on the Iranian government to release all imprisoned Christians and return confiscated centers and buildings to Christians, and to cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Fact-Finding Committee regarding complaints.”
They also called on the international community to hold the Islamic Republic government accountable for failing to meet its obligations under international law, and requested countries hosting Christian refugees and asylum seekers from Iran to facilitate the settlement and residence of these victims and not to return them to Iran, as they would face torture and imprisonment.
The annual report on Christians will be presented tomorrow (Tuesday) in the British Parliament, hosted by “Fiona Bruce,” the British Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Freedom of Religion or Belief, “Reverend Farhad Sabgkruh,” Christian activist “Shahnaz Jeezan,” and Mansour Borji, director of Article 18 organization.
