Category: Iran

The names of the people arrested have not been published. According to the chief of police, their activity involves “promoting superstitions and corrupt beliefs during their evening meetings. Mohabat reports that the aim of the news is not only to provoke but also to create alarm, start a sort of witch–hunt in response to a phenomenon which is clearly causing concern among leaders. Awhile back, Ati News which, according to Iranian dissidents is linked to government security agencies, published a report which stated that home churches had been identified in “Islamic” cities such as Qom and Mashhad. Mashhad is a pilgrimage destination for Shiite faithful and is the birthplace of Iran’s supreme leader, Seyyed Ali Khamenei. This detail is naturally aimed at triggering the reader’s indignation. [The report affirms that “these places are rented by church leaders, concerned with young people.”] It goes on to say that “Since everyone knows Christians have religious buildings where they can go and worship, this comes across as a scheme to corrupt and cause division among religions.” According to Iranian Christian sources, the number of arrests of people who convert from Islam to Christianity has gone up in recent years. This has meant that many converts do not have free access to Iran’s official religious buildings which are carefully watched by security services, in order to verify new arrivals. Consequently, Christian converts prefer to meet at home, in small groups, to pray, celebrate, study the Bible and follow catechesis and theology courses. The Internet has definitely played a part in sparking great interest and curiosity among young people for spiritual experiences that are different to those offered by the Ayatollah regime. The rise of home churches is one of the practical effects of this feeling. Over the past years, the regime has been constantly preoccupied by a “wild” Christianity that is out of control.