Prince Reza Pahlavi: Persecution of Christians in Iran Continues
Prince Reza Pahlavi, in a message, wrote about the ongoing persecution of Christians in Iran.
Prince Reza Pahlavi, referring to the persecution of religious minorities following the revolution, published a message stating: “Alongside Jews and Bahais, Iranian Christians immediately faced widespread persecution and harassment. Christian and Catholic leaders, including the Chaldean Archbishop of Tehran, were killed, arrested, or forced to flee the country. Just eight days after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Aristotle Siah, a priest of the Anglican Episcopal Church in Shiraz, was murdered, and the government proceeded to seize the assets of Christian churches, including hospitals belonging to the Episcopal Church in Shiraz and Isfahan.”
Prince Pahlavi, while noting that the torture and persecution of Iranian Christians continues to this day, added: “Christians, especially new converts to Christianity, are even deprived of the most basic rights, including access to churches. Because of their beliefs, they are routinely imprisoned and face baseless charges of actions against national security and cooperation and espionage for enemy states.”
He also emphasized that the Revolutionary Court persecutes Christians with such accusations without presenting valid documents or evidence, continuing: “Despite these alarming challenges, the Christian community in Iran remains resilient. Their faith, courage, and hope serve as testimony to the enduring power of faith in the face of oppression and tyranny. However, their struggle is not yet over, and they need the support of the global Christian community more than ever.
Nevertheless, there is hope. The collapse of the Islamic Republic will pave the way for a new era of religious freedom in Iran and throughout the Middle East. A free and democratic Iran will once again embrace the diversity of religions and beliefs that have been part of our nation’s rich history for thousands of years.”
Reza Pahlavi also addressed the issue of religious minority discrimination in recent days during an interview with a Catholic television network. In this interview, he spoke about “lost opportunities” and “discrimination against religious minorities.” He also called in this interview for a secular democratic government that would ensure the separation of religion from governance.
