Human rights activists are raising alarms over the increasing persecution of Christians in Iran, where the government is reportedly intensifying its crackdown on minority religions. This growing issue is seen as a reflection of broader repression tactics used by the regime.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) reports that over 300 Christians have faced legal action in Tehran alone, with about 100 individuals receiving lengthy prison sentences for their religious practices.
Data from Article 18, an organization advocating against religious persecution, reveals a sharp rise in sentencing. In 2024, 96 Christians received a combined total of 263 years in prison, averaging 2.7 years each, compared to 43.5 years for 22 individuals in 2023, averaging 1.9 years per person.
Prosecutions frequently cite Article 500 of Iran’s penal code, which enforces harsh penalties for “any deviant educational or proselytizing activity that contradicts or interferes with the sacred law of Islam.”
Despite Iran’s official recognition of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, non-Muslims experience significant persecution and restrictions. Converts from Islam face the gravest dangers, as apostasy can be met with the death penalty.
Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of CHRI, has stated, “The Christian community in Iran is facing a crisis. The Iranian authorities are abducting growing numbers of Christians and throwing absurd national security charges at them in order to imprison them for years for doing nothing other than peacefully practicing their faith.”
Ghaemi also remarked, “The persecution of Christians in Iran is part of the Islamic Republic’s assault on civil liberties, religious freedom, and minority communities, and it reflects the regime’s reliance on fear and repression to maintain control.”
Concerns about Iran’s treatment of Christians and other minorities have also been voiced by Mai Sato, the UN’s Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran, and Amnesty International. Their 2023/24 report highlights that religious minorities face “discrimination in law and practice, including in access to education, employment, child adoption, political office and places of worship. Hundreds were subjected to arbitrary detention, unjust prosecution, and torture and other ill-treatment for professing or practising their faith.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
