‘We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ‘

II Corinthians 4:8-11

100’s of Christians Arrested in Iran as Government Continues Crack Down on Christians

More than 100 Christians have been arrested in Iran in just one week and ordered to cut all contact with religious groups and house churches. They were detained by Iranian authorities, questioned their involvement in Christian activities, and told to expect a call from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. Christian charity Open Doors UK, which speaks out against persecution of believers, has described the news as “highly concerning”.

Government crackdown

Many of the 114 believers were converts to Christianity from Islam who were accused of proselytizing. Conversion to Christianity is an offence punishable by more than 10 years’ imprisonment. The recent events are part of a growing crackdown on Christians by the Islamic Republic. Head of Advocacy, Zoe Smith, said: “It follows an established trend of the Iranian government – as the number of converts to Christianity increases, so the authorities place greater restrictions on churches”.

Religious Freedom

A 2018 report by the Commission for International Religious Freedom highlighted that religious freedom in Iran has continued to deteriorate for Christian groups. Smith added: “The restrictions are worse for churches seen to be attended by Christians who have converted from Islam. Not only that, but the government is asking unreasonably high bail amounts and seeing longer prison terms for Christians.” “Some Christians disappear from their communities after serving a sentence; church leaders are put under pressure to leave the country or face an arrest”. She describes how house churches weaken “as their members choose to decrease their meeting hours and minimize their activities; some Christians lose contact with their churches altogether becoming isolated.”

Source: Christian.org.uk