ICC Global Report: Iran Among Fastest-Growing Centers of House Church Development Despite Security Crackdown
International Christian Concern (ICC), in its latest 2026 Global Persecution Index, announced that despite increased security pressures on converted Christians, Iran remains one of the most prominent examples of rapid growth of house churches worldwide; a trend that, according to the organization, demonstrates that the spread of Christian faith has not been halted even under the most difficult circumstances.
International Christian Concern (ICC), in its latest annual report titled “2026 Global Persecution Index,” announced that the number of Christians facing various forms of persecution and religious restrictions worldwide has reached approximately 380 million people. The report, by examining the conditions in more than 20 countries, has assessed major trends in the suppression of religious freedoms and the situation of Christian communities.
(It should be noted that International Christian Concern (ICC) is a non-profit, human rights, and international organization founded in 1995, headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area in the United States. The organization’s objectives and activities include assisting Christians in various countries who face persecution, violence, or discrimination due to their religious beliefs; documenting and publishing accurate reports about the state of religious freedom and violations of Christian minorities’ rights around the world; advocacy, lobbying, and dialogue with politicians and international bodies to pressure governments that violate Christians’ rights; and providing financial, educational, medical, and emergency support to families of prisoners of conscience and Christian communities under pressure.)
The report presented by the organization in the section concerning Iran emphasizes that the government continues to view converted Christians as a security threat and monitors their activities. According to the researchers of this report, many Persian-speaking Christians and converted Christians have turned to house churches, small gatherings, and online communications to continue their worship and religious participation; networks that, despite security pressures, continue to operate.
In this report, the growth of house churches in Iran is described as one of the most prominent examples of Christianity’s expansion in closed religious environments. ICC states that government restrictions have not only failed to prevent these networks from operating, but many Christian communities have found new ways to communicate, educate, and engage believers.
This year’s report also addresses global trends in Christian persecution and warns that religious nationalism, authoritarian governments, and extremist groups remain the three main factors limiting freedom of religion and belief worldwide. According to the organization, in countries like India, pressures resulting from religious nationalism have increased, North Korea remains one of the most closed countries for Christians, and parts of Africa face violence from extremist Islamic groups.
The report also references the situation in countries such as Nicaragua, Cuba, and Eritrea, reporting on the continued detention of church leaders, closure of religious centers, and government restrictions on religious activities. The report’s authors state: “Despite these pressures, many Christian communities in various parts of the world have continued their activities, and in some areas, we even witness an increase in the number of believers.”
Coinciding with the release of this report, Shane Claiborne, president of ICC, in introducing this statement said: “This year’s Global Persecution Index report is a bitter reminder of the fact that millions of our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to pay a heavy price due to their loyalty to their faith.”
He added that this report, in addition to documenting the situation of persecuted Christians, has been prepared to raise awareness among policymakers, media, and religious freedom advocates, and presents solutions for supporting, praying for, and monitoring the situation of persecuted Christians.
