Threatening Situation of Christians and House Churches in Iran
Christians and house churches in Iran face serious threats from the Islamic Republic government.
Iranian authorities severely suppress the right to freedom of religion and belief. Iranian Christians, particularly those not officially recognized by the Islamic Republic of Iran, face unjust trials following arbitrary detention, widespread torture, and mistreatment. In most cases, long prison sentences are imposed on them.
Iran’s Constitution recognizes Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians as religious minorities and states that they are free to perform their religious ceremonies within the framework of the law. However, the Islamic Republic government has not officially recognized a large portion of Farsi-speaking Christians and annually interrogates, arrests, and issues severe judicial sentences against a considerable number of Christians on grounds of their beliefs.
Following the nationwide protests in Iran, which the Islamic Republic government has called riots and attributes to foreign enemies, the government has recently added new operations to suppress the Iranian people to its agenda.
According to reliable reports from our correspondent in Iran, the Islamic Republic government has attributed the source of these protests to Christians and house churches, sending infiltrators among the people to identify house churches and Christians and take action to dismantle house churches and arrest Christians.
Christians who have always been subjected to persecution, injustice, and oppression by the Islamic Republic government and have been deprived in most cases of the right to employment and education, facing unjust sentences such as flogging, confiscation of property, exile, and unfair trials. The Islamic Republic government of Iran not only denies freedom of belief in the country, but has also tortured, imprisoned, killed, and harassed many Christians, Bahais, Dervishes, and Sunni Muslims for their beliefs and convictions. Now it remains unapologetic and intends to identify and dismantle all house churches.
In this dire situation where the Islamic Republic government will commit any crime to maintain its rule, it is the human duty of the Iranian people to continue standing together in unity regardless of cultural and ideological differences and not allow the Islamic Republic regime to commit another crime by attacking Christians.
A government that has no hesitation in killing innocent children and reaches out to the lives, property, and honor of people—will it spare the lives of innocent Christians whose beliefs are precious to them?
