A newly released annual report by Article 18, in collaboration with Open Doors, CSW, and Middle East Concern, reveals a significant surge in the persecution of Christians in Iran throughout 2024. According to the report, titled The Tip of the Iceberg, Christians in Iran faced a combined total of 263 years in prison sentences last year—a sixfold increase compared to 2023.
A Sharp Rise in Sentences and Arrests
The report documents that 96 Christians were sentenced to a total of 263 years in prison in 2024, compared to 22 Christians who received a combined 43.5 years in 2023. The dramatic escalation is attributed partly to a “huge uptick in arrests in the second half of 2023, which required judicial processing.” However, the report also highlights an alarming trend of longer individual sentences. Five Christians were sentenced to 10 years in prison each, and one individual received a 15-year sentence—all for charges related to their faith and religious activities.
The Scale of Persecution
The report underscores that the documented cases represent just a fraction of the actual persecution faced by Christians in Iran. This conclusion is supported by the 2024 leak of over 3 million judicial case files from Tehran’s judiciary, spanning from 2008 to 2023. Among these were files involving over 300 Christians, yet the report authors noted an additional 37 cases in Tehran over that 15-year period that were not included in the leaked data. Furthermore, an estimated 58% of cases involving Christians had gone unreported.
Systematic Repression of Christian Activities
The report’s analysis of the leaked files sheds light on the systematic repression of Christians in Iran. Among the key findings:
Christians are labeled as members of a “sect” and a security threat.
Promoting Christianity is criminalized.
Christians are interrogated about their beliefs and pressured to recant their faith.
The Bible is treated as contraband and used as evidence of criminal activity.
Ordinary religious practices, such as singing worship songs, are criminalized.
The leaked documents reveal the inner workings of Iran’s judicial and security systems, exposing a deliberate effort to suppress Christian activities and vilify their faith.
Financial Targeting and Property Confiscations
The report also highlights a growing trend of financial and property-related targeting of Christians. In at least five cities during the latter half of 2024, Christians were arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and charged under an amended provision of Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code. This amendment allows for sentences of up to 10 years in cases where individuals receive “financial or organizational help from outside the country.”
Christian properties were increasingly confiscated, and both arrested Christians and their lawyers were interrogated about potential foreign funding. The report notes that this approach is part of a broader strategy by the Iranian government to isolate and financially undermine the Christian community.
A Global Perspective on Criminalized Faith
The report emphasizes that financial donations, charitable offerings, and tithes are standard practices for Christians worldwide. However, in Iran, these acts have been criminalized by Revolutionary Courts, adding another layer of hardship to an already persecuted minority.
Conclusion
The Tip of the Iceberg offers a sobering insight into the increasing repression of Christians in Iran. It not only highlights the rise in arrests and harsh sentences but also underscores the systemic and strategic measures employed by Iranian authorities to suppress religious freedom. The report’s findings call for greater international attention and advocacy to address the plight of Iran’s Christian community.
Source » irannewsupdate