By Uzay Bulut, European Conservative. (Photo: Steven Su/Unsplash)
Christians in Iran are vilified as members of a ‘sect’ and considered a national security threat.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has unleashed a fresh wave of persecution against Christian converts, arresting at least 43 believers across 21 cities since June 25th, when the ceasefire with Israel took effect. From Tehran to Rasht, Orumiyeh to Kermanshah, authorities are targeting those who have left Islam—signaling an alarming escalation in religious repression.
Although the exact charges facing some of those arrested have not been made public, some cases involve the possession of Bibles. Others are connected to a newly proposed law that threatens severe punishment for alleged collaboration with so-called hostile states, such as the United States or Israel.
In a recent case, Mehran Shamloui, a Christian who fled Iran to escape imprisonment for his faith, was detained on July 5th after being deported from Turkey back to the country.
In May, Shamloui and two other converts, including a woman pregnant with her first child, were summoned to begin prison sentences totaling over 40 years on charges related to their religious beliefs and worship meetings. The charges include “propaganda against Islamic law” and “membership in groups opposing the state.”
Christian converts from Islam bear the brunt of religious freedom violations, and most of the persecution is carried out by the government. Many Christians are arrested and prosecuted and have received long prison sentences for “crimes against national security.” Identifying as Muslim is a requirement for most jobs, especially in the government. Iranian Christians suffer from legalized discrimination, including being denied the use of the Persian language for any religious activity or Christian material.