Annual report by Article 18 and three global Christian organizations to the United Nations on continuing violations of the rights of Christians
The Article 18 organization, along with three global Christian organizations, submitted their annual report to the United Nations regarding the continued violations of the rights of Christians in Iran.
The report by Christian organizations Open Doors, MAC, World Christian Solidarity, and Article 18 addresses the continued violations of the rights of Christians, especially citizens who have converted to Christianity, and recommends holding the Iranian government accountable to the United Nations.
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes the religious minorities of Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians, which only includes Armenians and Assyrian Christians, and does not include Iranian citizens who have converted to Christianity. Although recognized citizens are also considered citizens in some way and can enjoy citizenship rights within the framework of the laws and red lines of the government, minorities that are not recognized are completely deprived of citizenship rights.
One of the main issues regarding the violation of Christian rights mentioned in the reports of the aforementioned Christian organizations is the lack of recognition of the majority of Iranian Christians, who, according to these organizations, are called converts, and this group of citizens is deprived of even the minimum rights provided for recognized Christians.
The report, while referring to a letter written in 2019 by a group of UN special rapporteurs to the authorities of the Islamic Republic, also called for the Iranian government to be held accountable for its continued systematic repression of Christian citizens. The reporters, while publishing a list of 24 Christians sentenced to prison, said: “The Iranian government views Christian worship from a security perspective and, by raiding homes and gatherings, sends them to prison on vague charges such as ‘acting against national security.’”
In response to the Special Rapporteurs' letter, the Iranian government does not deny the conviction of 24 Christians, but it calls the convictions based on charges including "acting against national security," "association with Zionist Christianity," and "membership in hostile groups," while it has never provided any documents or evidence regarding these charges.
The report of the four organizations also states: "In reality, house church meetings are religious gatherings. They are not political tools and are in no way linked to Zionism, subversion, or a threat to security. Christian converts gather in their homes because the government has prohibited them from attending church buildings."
The organizations also noted that even recognized Christians face discrimination. The report cited numerous cases of arrests and convictions of Christians for their peaceful religious beliefs and activities. The four Christian organizations had previously reported in their annual report on the situation of Christians that at least 160 Christian citizens were arrested and detained in 2023, a significant increase over the previous two years. This number was reported to be about 134 in 2022 and about 59 in 2021. More than a third of these arrests were also for possessing a Bible in Persian.
Four Christian organizations have explained, citing various cases, that the government continues to pressure Christians and their families even after their release and the end of their sentences, some of which include deprivation of work and education.
The report concludes by making recommendations to the members of the UN Human Rights Council to prevent violations of the rights of Christians in Iran, and calls on the government of the Islamic Republic to stop arresting Christians for their peaceful religious beliefs and activities, and to allow them to perform religious ceremonies. It also calls on the UN Special Rapporteur to be allowed to travel to Iran and return their confiscated centers and properties.
