International Pressure Mounts to Save Historic St. Peter’s Church in Tehran
The World Council of Churches and the Evangelical Union of Spain, warning of the danger of confiscation and potential destruction of the historic St. Peter’s Church in Tehran, have called on the Islamic Republic to immediately halt all actions against this complex. These organizations state that pressure on this church is part of an increasing process of restricting religious freedom and threatening Christian heritage in Iran.
As international concerns over the situation of the evangelical St. Peter’s Church in Tehran intensify, two major Christian institutions worldwide have issued statements and formal correspondences, warning of the consequences of confiscating this historic complex and calling on the Islamic Republic to halt the process of seizing the property.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) announced in a statement that following the destruction of the historic evangelical church in Mashhad, it has received reports about increasing pressure on the evangelical church complex in Tehran. The council expressed concern that church staff have faced threats of detention, residents of the complex have been pressured to leave their homes, and efforts are underway to transfer ownership of church properties.
The statement said: “We call on the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately cease any action that could lead to confiscation, transfer, destruction, or change of use of church properties.”
The World Council of Churches has also emphasized that the Iranian government must protect the rights, property, and religious heritage of all recognized religious communities and must end legal and administrative pressures against leaders and members of the evangelical community.
Meanwhile, the Evangelical Union of Spain, by sending a letter to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has called for immediate diplomatic action to prevent the confiscation of this church. In this letter, the threat to St. Peter’s Church is described as part of “a broader pattern of confiscation and destruction of Protestant church properties in Iran.”
St. Peter’s Church, considered one of the oldest Protestant churches in Iran, was built in the 1870s by American Presbyterian missionaries on Sittir Street in Tehran and, over nearly a century and a half, has been one of the main centers of activity for Iran’s evangelical community. In addition to the church building, this complex includes residential units, schools, and affiliated buildings and holds particular historical and cultural significance for Iranian Christians.
According to published reports, authorities of the Islamic Republic have asked Armenian and Assyrian families living in the complex to vacate their homes, and church members have been informed that they must go to other churches to conduct worship services. Christian sources also report that church officials have faced threats of detention if they refuse to comply with these orders.
Reports released by religious freedom advocacy organizations show that the dispute over ownership of this complex dates back years. According to these reports, a court ruling in the 1990s provided for the transfer of ownership of the complex to the Execution Headquarters of the Imam’s Order, but church officials say they were unaware of this process and were not given an effective opportunity to mount a legal defense.
International organizations defending religious freedom have warned that the St. Peter’s Church case is not limited to a mere property dispute but could have broad implications for preserving Christian historical heritage and the freedom to practice religion in Iran. For this reason, the World Council of Churches has called on the international community to use diplomatic capacities to protect this historic site and safeguard the rights of Iran’s Christian community.
