Iran: Christians Faced Surge of Arrests in 2023

Cracking down on Christianity it perceives as a threat to its authoritarian power, Iran’s Islamic regime last year arrested a record number of Christians across the country, targeting Bible distributors in particular, the Christian Post (CP) reports. 

Iranian Converts Start New Year Behind Bars

An Iranian has begun the New Year behind bars after being detained for converting from Islam to Christianity and related activities, Worthy News learned Tuesday.

‘50,000 Mosques Closed In Iran’ As Christianity Spreads

Recent comments by a senior Iranian cleric that around 50,000 of Iran’s 75,000 mosques are closed highlight the growth of Christianity in Iran and disillusion with “the regime’s use of Islam to justify its authoritarian rule,” a prominent human rights activist told Worthy News on Monday.

Iran executes two men for blasphemy

Amid a spike in the number of executions it has carried out since last year’s nationwide anti-government protests, Iran has just executed two Iranian men charged with blasphemy for insulting Islam and the Islamic prophet Muhammad, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, there are currently more than 150 people imprisoned in Iran for their religious beliefs.

Iran Releases Church Leader Nadarkhani After Years Behind Bars

An Iranian pastor, who spent most of his time in prison since 2016, has been released as part of a national amnesty issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to commemorate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Worthy News learned Wednesday.

Iran: Two Christians pardoned and released from prison

In a rare act of goodwill toward Iran’s Christian community, the Iranian Islamic regime pardoned and released two Christians imprisoned for “acting against national security by organizing house churches and promoting ‘Zionist’ Christianity,” International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The Christians’ release was part of the government’s annual tradition of pardoning prisoners commemorating Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Worthy Christian News