Christian citizens tried under the title of "threat to national security"

Christian citizens in Iran are being tried under unfair trials under the title of "threat against national security."

Newly converted Christians, or so-called unofficial Christians, are increasing in Iran every day, and the number of people who believe in Jesus Christ is expanding every day. Iranian authorities have also increased the number of arrests and arbitrary detentions of believers. The arrests of Christians have increased since 2005 compared to previous decades, and have increased in severity since 2009.

The arrested believers have been formally accused of various crimes by judicial authorities and then tried. Recently, we have also witnessed the arrest of Christians who have been tortured into confessing, and in some cases have faced threats such as long prison sentences, torture, arrest of family members, or even execution for apostasy.

Not long ago, Mehdi Akbari also stated in a letter he wrote from Evin Prison: "I do not know what worshiping God has to do with acting against national security. He was also accused and tried for the crime of acting against national security."

Given that Iran is a signatory to the International Covenant on Freedom of Expression and Belief, it considers those who convert to Christianity to be apostates and considers their actions to be blasphemy. In many cases, instead of introducing believers as ideological defendants, it tries them as political and security defendants due to fear of negative consequences at the international level. For this reason, it is more common for Christians and unofficial believers to be tried in revolutionary courts as political criminals or for acts against national security.

The charges that Christian believers face include: “propaganda against the regime,” “act against national security,” “contact with hostile foreign countries,” “contact with anti-regime groups,” and “collusion with hostile foreign governments.” The evidence used against them also includes: “preaching Christianity,” “hosting worship services,” “attending Christian conferences,” “distributing the gospel,” “holding house church meetings,” and similar cases.

It should be noted that recently, agents of the Islamic Republic have increased attacks on house churches and are using violent measures to prevent the formation of these churches. There has even been news recently about warnings to Christian believers not to attend church services in person or online, as if they were to be arrested on various security charges.

The above-mentioned measures are taking place while the right to freedom of expression of Christians in Iran is guaranteed by international law and Article 24 of the Iranian Constitution, but these rights are being taken away from them every day.