(Morning Star News) – Legislation passed by parliament in Iran could make it easier to arrest and imprison Christians and other religious minorities, rights advocates said. Under amendments to articles 499 and 500 of the Islamic Penal Code, those found guilty of “deviant psychological manipulation” or “propaganda contrary to Islam,” whether in the “real or […]
New Law in Iran Threatens More Arrests of Christians, Rights Advocates Say
Legislation could enable regime to ban any group as a ‘sect.’
June 30, 2020 By -
Some Prisoners Released, but Iran Continues Crack-Down on Christians
After brief lull, converts still targeted.
June 1, 2020 By -
(Morning Star News) – The COVID-19 crisis in Iran has resulted in freedom for several Christians among the roughly 85,000 people released from prison, but convictions have continued in spite of a short-lived lull in actions against converts to Christianity, sources said. The release of imprisoned Christians as part of the regime’s efforts to curb […]
His Exile Extended 11 Months, Christian in Iran Finds Warm Welcome
Ebrahim Firoozi’s term of forcible relocation now nearly three years.
April 13, 2020 By -
(Morning Star News) – When a convert from Islam in Iran was sentenced to two years in exile in Sarbaz last year, the judge warned him that religious extremists in the remote desert town would treat him harshly. When Ebrahim Firoozi arrived in November to southwest Iran near the border with Pakistan, though, he discovered […]
Christian Begins Sentence of Exile in Remote, Islamist Area of Iran
Convert from Islam convicted of evangelizing.
November 18, 2019 By -
(Morning Star News) – A Christian in Iran convicted of conducting evangelistic activities began a mandated two years in exile this month in a remote area on the border with Pakistan, sources said. As part of a larger prison sentence delivered in 2013, Ebrahim Firoozi, 33, was sentenced to two years in exile in Sarbaz, […]
Spike in Arrests of Christians in Iran Especially Severe this Christmas Season, Sources Say
Government trying to intimidate Iranians interested in Christianity, analysts say.
December 20, 2018 By -
JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) – Arrests of Christians in Iran usually spike as Christmas approaches, but this year has been especially severe, sources said. More than 150 Christians have been detained across the officially Shia Muslim country in the last month, and arrests are expected to continue. “The current situation has been described by some as […]
Arrest of Converts Shows Close Surveillance of Christians in Iran, Advocate Says
Detention of two men planning to meet indicates 'close monitoring.'
November 21, 2018 By -
JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) – Two Christian converts from Islam planning to meet in a northern city of Iran were detained on the same day, part of what rights advocates say could be part of a rash of arrests in the area. Behnam Ersali and Davood Rasooli, both of Karaj, were arrested on Friday (Nov. 16) […]
Crack-Down on Christians in Iran Continues with Two More Prison Sentences
Regime threatened by rampant growth of Christianity, advocates say.
October 12, 2018 By -
JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) – Rights groups learned last week that two Christians in Iran have been sentenced to prison, the latest in a series of convictions on fabricated charges. Saheb Fadaei, already serving a 10-year prison sentence in Tehran, and Fatimeh Bakherti, both converts from Islam, were sentenced on Sept. 22 to 18 months and […]
House-Church Members in Iran Reportedly Sentenced to Year in Prison
Authorities continue to lash out at Christians.
August 17, 2018 By -
(Morning Star News) – A convert from Islam in Iran said he and 11 other Christians were sentenced to a year in prison for “inclination to the land of Christianity” among other charges, according to Mohabat News. “Interrogations were obviously indicating that they were looking for confession to communications with [those] abroad, especially America, Britain […]
Christians in Iran Seized from Homes, including Violent Imprisonment of Pastor
Yousef Nadarkhani and son beaten, tasered, local reports say.
July 25, 2018 By -
(Morning Star News) – Three Christians in Iran were arrested from their homes today and yesterday following the violent arrest of pastor Yousef Nadarkhani on Sunday (July 22), according to advocacy group Middle East Concern (MEC). Pastor Nadarkhani, a convert from Islam like the others arrested, was awaiting a summons to begin a 10-year prison […]
Hunger Strikes in Iran Protest Upsurge in Harsh Sentences, Treatment of Christians
A counter-message for the signal the government is sending.
July 31, 2017 By -
JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) – Two Christian prisoners in Iran went on hunger strikes to protest increasingly harsh treatment of those arrested for house-church activities. Since June 2016, courts in Iran have given 11 Christians prison sentences of at least 10 years, mostly on charges related to house-church activities for converts from Islam, according to advocacy […]