Annual Report by ‘Article 18′ Organization and Three Global Christian Organizations to the United Nations Regarding Continued Violations of Christians’ Rights

The ‘Article 18′ organization, along with three global Christian organizations, submitted their annual report on continued violations of Christians’ rights in Iran to the United Nations.

In the report by the Christian organizations ‘Open Doors,’ ‘MIC,’ ‘Christian Solidarity International,’ and ‘Article 18,’ the continued violations of Christians’ rights, particularly citizens who have converted to Christianity, were addressed, and recommendations were presented to the United Nations regarding holding the Iranian government accountable.

In the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, religious minorities including Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians are officially recognized, which only includes Armenian and Assyrian Christians and does not include Iranian citizens who have converted to Christianity. Although officially recognized citizens are considered second-class citizens and can enjoy civil rights within the framework of laws and red lines set by the government, unrecognized minorities are completely deprived of civil rights.

Among the main issues mentioned in the report by the aforementioned Christian organizations regarding violations of Christians’ rights is the lack of official recognition of the majority of Iran’s Christians, who according to these organizations’ report are called ‘converts.’ This category of citizens is deprived of even the minimum rights granted to officially recognized Christians.

In the report, while referencing a letter written in 2020 by a group of United Nations special rapporteurs to the authorities of the Islamic Republic, the report called for Iranian government accountability regarding the continued systematic suppression of Christian citizens. The aforementioned rapporteurs, while publishing a list of 24 imprisoned Christians, stated: ‘The Iranian government views Christian worship through a security lens and, through raids on homes and gatherings, imprisons them on vague charges such as ‘actions against national security.’

The Iranian government, in response to the letter from special rapporteurs, does not deny the conviction of 24 Christians but attributes the reason for their conviction to charges including ‘actions against national security,’ ‘connection with Zionist Christianity,’ and ‘membership in hostile groups,’ while having never provided any documents or evidence regarding these accusations.

Additionally, in the report of the four aforementioned organizations, it stated: ‘In fact, house church meetings are religious gatherings. They are not political tools and in no way are related to Zionism, subversion, or threats to security. Christian converts gather in their homes because the government has banned them from attending church buildings.’

The aforementioned organizations also noted that even officially recognized Christians face discrimination. The report referred to numerous cases of arrest and conviction of Christians due to their beliefs and peaceful religious activities. In their annual report on the situation of Christians, these four Christian organizations previously reported the arrest and detention of at least 160 Christian citizens in 2023, which shows a significant increase compared to the previous two years. This number was approximately 134 people in 2022 and approximately 59 people in 2021. More than one-third of these arrests were due to possessing Persian-language Bibles.

The four Christian organizations, by citing various cases, explained that the government continues to pressure Christians and their families even after their release and the end of their sentences, which can be attributed to some examples including deprivation of employment and education.

The report, in conclusion, made recommendations to members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to prevent violations of Christians’ rights in Iran and called for the Islamic Republic government to be asked to stop detaining Christians due to their beliefs and peaceful religious activities and to allow them to practice religious ceremonies. It also called for the return of their confiscated facilities and properties and for permission to be granted for a UN special rapporteur to visit Iran.