Missions, The Persecuted Church Across the World

Iran: Coordinated arrests of Christians – August 1st 2020

MEC, Jul 6, 2020

Iranian Christians request prayer after Revolutionary Guard agents arrested at least twelve Christians in three different cities.  It is believed an informant gained Christians’ trust, infiltrated their network, and helped Iranian security identify particular individuals and raid a meeting in a private home.

On 30 June, in Tehran, security agents raided the home of a Christian convert, where about 30 Christians had gathered. The security agents, who filmed the raid, were initially respectful, but once the cameras were switched off, the mood abruptly changed and they reportedly became abusive.  The Christians were taken to the parking area where a list of names was read out. Those present from that list were handcuffed, blindfolded, and taken away.

They then went to the houses of those on the list from Tehran and Karaj, searching for Bibles, other Christian literature, and electronic communication devices.  Three more converts  also on the list, but not present at the gathering, were arrested at their homes, which were searched.

In a related security action, also on 30 June, agents called three Christian converts in Malayer, and summoned them to the Revolutionary Guard intelligence office for questioning the next day. However, all three were arrested before they could turn themselves in. They were released on bail of 30 million tomans (around $1,500) each on 2 July.