United Nations Seeks Clarification on Confiscation of St. Peter Church in Tehran
Two United Nations special rapporteurs, by publishing details of official correspondence with the Islamic Republic, have expressed concern over the confiscation of the historic evangelical St. Peter Church complex in Tehran, the expulsion of 27 residents, and the forced closure of the church. According to UN experts, this action is not an isolated incident but rather part of a multi-decade process of restricting Iran’s Christian community, particularly Persian-speaking Christians. The correspondence, which was sent on July 10, became public on September 11, 2026, following the expiration of a 60-day deadline, despite the Islamic Republic providing no response to the rapporteurs’ questions until its publication.
“Mai Sato,” the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, and “Nazila Ghanea,” the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, have formally requested clarification from the Iranian government regarding the fate of St. Peter Church and its residents. They announced that received information indicates that 20 families residing in the complex, comprising 27 members of Armenian and Assyrian Christian communities, had only two weeks to vacate their homes—families who had lived at this location for years and even decades.
According to the same UN document, families residing in the complex received evacuation orders in late June 2026, and worshippers were told to conduct religious ceremonies at other churches. It was also reported that six intelligence ministry officials entered the complex on June 28 and told residents they had come “for them to get used to their presence.” Church leaders faced threats of arrest if families refused to vacate.
However, the matter has now moved beyond the “threat of confiscation” stage. The church complex has been confiscated, its resident families expelled, and the church itself forcibly closed. UN special rapporteurs stated that guards have been stationed in front of the church to prevent worshippers from re-entering.
St. Peter Church is not merely a religious building. The church is part of a historic complex in central Tehran spanning approximately 4 hectares, which houses, in addition to the church building, two schools, residential areas for Christian families, and offices of institutions such as the “Bible Society” and the “Council of Evangelical Churches of Iran.” The Council of Evangelical Churches of Iran is listed as the owner of the complex.
The legal basis for the confiscation traces back to a Revolutionary Court ruling in 1998, according to which the entire complex was to be transferred to the “Office of Implementation of the Imam’s Decree.” However, the Council of Evangelical Churches of Iran stated it was unaware of this ruling until 2008, and after protesting, the case was reportedly closed at the order of the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
The UN special rapporteurs referenced this history in their letter and questioned what the actual legal and factual basis was for implementing this ruling after nearly three decades, and why its implementation was pursued at this particular moment. They also requested that the Iranian government explain what legal procedures, appeal opportunities, compensation, or alternative housing have been provided for the expelled families.
However, perhaps the most important aspect of this correspondence is placing the St. Peter Church case within a broader framework. UN experts have emphasized that what happened to this church is “not an isolated incident,” but rather constitutes a continuation of a multi-decade process against Iran’s Christian community, particularly Persian-speaking Christian worship.
Within this framework, the United Nations also referenced other cases: the Assyrian Protestant Church in Tabriz, which was closed in 2019; the Protestant Church in Mashhad, which was demolished without prior warning in June 2026; a center belonging to the Jama’at-i Ilahi churches in Karaj, which was confiscated in 2018; and a church in Gorgan, which remained empty for years after forced closure and was later put up for auction.
UN experts also presented a concerning picture of the state of Persian-language worship. According to them, there was once approximately 50 Protestant churches in Iran conducting services in Persian, but today virtually none of them have the opportunity to function as they once did. Three Anglican churches in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz, which were permitted to conduct sermons and services in Persian, have not been allowed to reopen since the coronavirus pandemic.
These restrictions hold particular significance for Iranian Christians with Muslim backgrounds—a group for whom Persian-language worship is of fundamental importance. The special rapporteurs explicitly asked the Islamic Republic what measures it has taken to enable Persian-speaking Christians, including those with Muslim backgrounds, to worship freely and in their native language without fear of arrest and legal persecution.
Notably, the “Council of Evangelical Churches of Iran” has been unable to renew its legal registration since 1980, and the “Bible Society,” which was apparently temporarily closed in 1990, has remained shut for more than 35 years. The UN rapporteurs requested that Tehran provide formal clarification on both matters.
UN experts in their letter recalled that freedom of religion and belief is not limited to holding a belief in one’s mind; this freedom includes the ability to worship, gather for religious purposes, and establish and maintain places of worship. Citing international human rights covenants, they stated that such actions could conflict with Iran’s international commitments regarding freedom of religion, minority rights, freedom of association, and the right to adequate housing.
From the perspective of a Christian news outlet, the St. Peter Church case is more than merely a property ownership dispute; it is a serious question about the right of a Christian community to have homes, churches, and the means to worship. When families who have lived for years in a church complex are forced to leave their homes on short notice, and simultaneously the doors of their place of worship are closed, the consequence is not merely the loss of a building; part of the life and identity of a Christian community is placed under pressure.
The response of the global Christian community also demonstrates the importance of this issue. The World Council of Churches condemned the confiscation of the St. Peter complex and the expulsion of its residents in July 2026, and called for the return of the complex to the Council of Evangelical Churches of Iran, the return of residents and worshippers, and the protection of Christian communities and places of worship.
The central question now is: why does the Islamic Republic, despite claiming to be committed to legal protection of certain religious minorities, in practice witness the closure of churches, restrictions on Persian-language worship, confiscation of church properties, and pressure on Christians? More importantly, why has Tehran still provided no response following specific questions posed by two UN special rapporteurs?
The St. Peter Church case ultimately presents a clear picture of the gap between claims of “religious freedom” and the reality of life for many Christians in the Islamic Republic—a gap that this time has been addressed not only by Christian organizations and human rights groups, but in official correspondence by UN experts as well.
