There are at least 49 Christians being held by authorities in Iran according to a new report from the United Nations. Many of the Christians being held in prison were arrested for their involvement in house churches.
In addition, 120 members of the Baha’i community are being held by authorities.
According to the report, churches have been closed and pastors arrested “for holding services in Persian or for allegedly ministering to Iranians from Muslim backgrounds.”
Lawyers that take on cases of imprisoned non-Muslims have also endured persecution; some have been put in jail themselves or forced to leave the country.
Dwight Bashir, deputy directory of policy and research at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said, “The state of freedom of religion and belief in Iran is not improving, It is deteriorating.”
Publication date: October 28, 2014
