Cruel Restrictions on Christian Converts in Iran

Christian converts have been present in Iran for years and have always looked upon their Muslim compatriots with affection, but this does not mean we should not speak of the harassment and persecution inflicted upon them by the authorities. The reason for the Islamic Republic’s struggle and persecution of church activists is undoubtedly the government’s fear and dread of the rapid and widespread expansion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ among Iranians.

I, Ibrahim Firouzi, as a Christian convert who have been closely observing the situation of various churches in Iran for several years, wish to present some of the cruel restrictions that the authorities impose on various churches in Iran.
1. Prevention of Festive Gatherings: Celebrations such as Christmas and New Year are customary among Christians, but Christian converts in Iran are not allowed to hold these festivals like Christians in other countries. The Islamic Republic’s media congratulate these festivals for propaganda purposes, but in most cases when these festivals are held, we witness mass arrests of Christian converts.
2. Prevention of Worship Gatherings: Collective worship is emphasized in the Christian Gospel, and attending a gathering of other Christians to perform prayers is considered a matter of worship, but the Islamic Republic has banned Christians from gathering in their private homes and formally interprets the holding of worship sessions in private properties as the formation of an anti-government group, and so far many Christian converts have been arrested during worship sessions.
3. Prohibition of Printing Necessary Books: Christian converts in Iran are not allowed to publish books or pamphlets related to their churches according to their authentic texts, because the Islamic Republic believes that printing books desired by Christians in the Persian language causes Persian speakers to become aware of the Gospel and to incline towards Christianity. Thus, many converts do not have access to the written works of their churches.
The persecution that Christian converts face from the Islamic Republic is not limited to these four points alone, but the mention of the above cases shows that the current government of Iran is not willing to respect the minimum human rights of Christians and freedom of opinion and expression in the Islamic Republic has remained completely barren. I expect international bodies and human rights organizations to take intelligent positions and legitimate reactions to prevent the spread of these discriminatory behaviors against Christian converts in Iran.