According to the Christian organization "Open Doors", the Islamic Republic of Iran is the eighth most "anti-Christian" country in the world.

The Christian organization "Open Doors" has announced in its annual report on Christians in 50 countries that the Islamic Republic of Iran is the eighth most "anti-Christian" country in the world.

The report, published by this international organization on Wednesday, January 14, notes that the Iranian government considers the conversion of Muslims to Christianity to be an attempt by the West to weaken the Islamic Republic's government, and states: "Christians who were Muslims in the past are more persecuted and harassed than others."

The report also says that underground churches are often attacked, their leaders and members are arrested, and they are sentenced to long prison terms on charges of acting against national security.

Open Doors, which supports Christians in more than 60 countries, added in the report that Armenian and Assyrian Christians, recognized as a religious minority in Iran’s constitution, face discrimination and are considered “second-class” citizens. They are “not allowed to talk about Jesus Christ to others or speak Persian in church services,” according to the report.

This international organization also refers to the release of some prisoners from Iranian prisons after the outbreak and spread of the coronavirus, saying: "A group of prisoners in Iran, including some who were imprisoned for their faith, have been released from overcrowded prisons to prevent the spread of the coronavirus; but a number of other Christians remain in prison and the trial of other Christians continues."

This year's US State Department report on religious freedom in the world also states that in 2019, as in previous years, the Islamic Republic continued to harass, interrogate, and detain non-Armenian Christians, especially those who have converted to Christianity (converts) and other religious minorities.