Editor’s Note: The Tailor Also Fell into the Pit!

These days, a noteworthy piece of news has been published in Iranian newspapers, and we wish to inform you of the behind-the-scenes developments of this story and delve into its roots.

“Jonathan Betkolia, representative of Assyrians and Chaldeans of Iran in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, has reported on the unlawful seizure of land belonging to the Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church in Tehran by a group under the guise of a religious institution and under the pretext of establishing and building a Hussainiyah.” Shargh Daily

This unfortunate news from the Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church represents the continuation of the gradual process of eliminating the Christian religious minority by Iran’s Islamic government. Unfortunately, such news has not been unprecedented in the past thirty-seven years, and those in charge of Islamic affairs in Iran have plenty of such instances of reaching out for church property in their work records. Recounting each of these cases would only add to the sorrow that the seizure of land from the Catholic Church has caused in the hearts of believers.

What is even more regrettable is that Mr. Jonathan Betkolia, representative of Assyrians and Chaldeans of Iran, stated in his speech on the floor of the Islamic Consultative Assembly that: For nearly two years, a group under the guise of a religious institution, under the pretext of establishing and building a Hussainiyah, has illegally seized land belonging to the Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church on Patrice Lumumba Street in Tehran, and despite repeated referrals and multiple reviews by officials, they have continued their unlawful seizures and even claim piety.

What makes this even more regrettable is that these words come from Mr. Betkolia. He, who has a record of sympathy and cooperation with intelligence agencies to eliminate Christians from Iran, suffers from the same pain through which he has conducted his own affairs. Refer to the news published on December 31, 2013, titled Permanent Ban on the Entry of Christians… on this same news network. Or his complicity in expelling three non-ethnic Christian families from residence in the garden of St. Peter’s Church in Tehran. May 3, 2013.

The result of his numerous attacks in parliamentary speeches and biased interviews against Persian-speaking Christians and his exoneration of intelligence operations against evangelical Christians has brought him representation of Assyrians and Chaldeans of Iran from the sixth parliament to the present.

This permanent representative and alternates of Assyrians and Chaldeans have forgotten that in despotic governments there is no permanent protection and safeguarding, and adherence to moral principles has no place. Nowhere in history is there any sign of dictators’ loyalty to their servants. A hired hand receives his wages only as long as he is useful.

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3

Mr. Betkolia, on Monday the seventh of Dey, continuing his floor speech, referring to Article 881 Repeated of the Civil Code, said: If we are infidels, then what am I doing in this parliament?

Yes, Mr. Betkolia, in the eyes of the religion and ideology of these gentlemen, you and we are not only infidels but also impure and unclean. But please return to the words of our Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 7, verses 20-23. He said: “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.“

One whose inclinations and thoughts are pure and free from hypocrisy is clean before God and man.

It would be better to look back at your past choices to better understand the cause of these events. Accept this advice from your younger brother. Reconsider your actions and conduct, and distance yourself from the path that leads to eternal death. So that you may remain pure before God and people, and become an heir to eternal life.