Celebrating the 35th anniversary of the death of Pastor Hossein Soudmand
Christians in many countries commemorated the 35th anniversary of the execution of Pastor Hussein Soudmand.
Yesterday, December 3, was the 35th anniversary of the execution of Pastor Hossein Soudmand, and many Christian citizens in different countries gathered in his memory and commemorated the anniversary of his execution.
Hossein Soudmand was born in Mashhad and during his military service, he was introduced to Christianity through an Armenian friend and converted to Christianity. After returning to his hometown, he was rejected by his family because of this belief. So he went to Tehran to learn Christian teachings. Then he went to Isfahan and served in the Christian organization for the blind.
He, who led the Isfahan Congregational Church and was widely active in Christian organizations, was repeatedly pressured by the Islamic Republic's security forces to stop preaching, but he never agreed.
Arrest, imprisonment, interrogation, and torture were his share of this steadfastness in his faith. After a while, he was released on bail. His friends suggested that he leave the country, but he replied: "My flight from persecution would weaken the flock of God," and emphasized that he was ready to sacrifice his life for the flock of God, like Christ.
He was finally executed in Mashhad Prison in December 1980, and his body was buried in a place called "Lanetabad" without his family having the opportunity to meet him for the last time.
His family was not allowed to erect a tombstone for him, and they settled for a cement grave; but in December 2019, the Islamic Republic government buried the simple grave with a half-meter mound of earth; an action that was met with strong protests from his family. He was a true servant of God and never surrendered to the pressures and threats of the government, and he stood firm in his faith until the last moment of his fruitful life.
Although it has now been thirty-five years since his government execution, the main question remains: Why is his case still considered one of the most important examples of violations of religious freedom in Iran, and why is his memory not just a memory for the Christian community, but rather part of the identity of resistance and stability?
Pastor Soudmand is a symbol of the first generation of Muslim-born Christians who, after the Islamic Revolution, took the path of their faith with serious risks. He was neither a political activist nor a member of an opposition organization. His only “accusation” was choosing the Christian faith and serving in the church.
His case shows that even in the absence of explicit laws on apostasy, jurisprudential and security interpretations can lead to the issuance of a death sentence for a religious belief. In the decades since his execution, whenever pressures on the Christian community have increased, Sodmand’s name has resurfaced; because: “He is the only Christian priest of Muslim origin to be officially executed by judicial order, his death was a clear message to all Christians: ‘Converting to faith can cost lives’, the destruction of his tomb (even years after the execution) showed that some institutions are at odds not only with the actions of individuals, but also with the collective memory of society.”
Over the past three decades, the Christian home community in Iran has grown significantly, but it has also been accompanied by periodic arrests, pressure on church leaders and home group officials, restrictions on possession of Persian Bibles in some cases, interrogations, and sentences related to "propaganda against the system," "assembly and collusion," or "actions against national security."
Although the intensity of the clashes has changed at different times, the practice of securitizing Christian identity, especially for people who have converted from Islam to Christianity, still exists.
Now the question is why is Soudmand's memory important? Hossein Soudmand is not just one person, he is still important today for three reasons:
- A living testament to the demand for religious freedom: His case is one of the focal points of international reports on Iran, as it shows that violations of religious freedom in the country have an official and documented history.
- A Legacy of Encouragement and Perseverance for Persian-Speaking Churches: His message still inspires many Christians. That famous line, “My flight from persecution weakens the flock of God,” has become a hymn of faith resistance among many house church leaders.
- Fighting oblivion: The destruction of the grave, the concealment of signs, and the official silence all indicate an attempt to erase his traces. But every anniversary, every candle, and every report is a form of resistance against oblivion.
Today, the Christian community inside and outside Iran is larger, younger, and more informed. Media networks, Persian-language churches, and global communications have helped this community to make its voice louder. But two major responsibilities remain: “Preserving the memory of the martyrs of faith, including Hossein Soudmand, so that future generations will know that freedom of faith was not achieved easily, and documenting violations of religious freedom.”
Every report, every interview, and every narrative can help shape the true picture of the state of religious freedom in Iran.
Hossein Soudmand is not just a name in the history of the Iranian church; he is a symbol of the fact that faith can remain bright even in the darkest spaces, a light that neither prison nor the destruction of a tomb extinguished.
His anniversary is not just a reminder of an execution, but also a reminder of the right to choose one's faith; a right that no government can take away from people.
