[Field Story] Iranian Christians fleeing persecution denied asylum by Georgian authoritiesIranian Christians fleeing persecution have applied for asylum in Georgia, but their applications have been

A recent report by Article18, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Open Doors and Middle East Concern highlights the plight of Iranian Christians who have fled persecution in their home country and are being denied asylum in neighboring Georgia on grounds that their faith is false.

The report found that in the past three years, Georgia's immigration authorities have accepted less than 1 percent of the more than 1,000 Iranians who have applied for asylum.

“Asylum seekers face an uncertain future, with little hope of being recognized as refugees and few alternatives to access international protection,” the report said. “Several individuals whose asylum applications were rejected in Georgia have already lived as refugees for years in neighboring countries such as Turkey and say they do not know what to do or where to go.”

Iranians make up one-fifth of all asylum seekers in Georgia. Turkey is the most common destination for Iranian asylum seekers, but as conditions for Turkey's religious minorities worsen, more Iranians have sought alternatives like Georgia.

The report said that about 85 percent of Georgia's population is Orthodox Christian. Religious freedom advocacy groups said one reason for the denial was “intolerance toward non-Georgian Christian beliefs.”

Another reason for the rejection of refugee applications is said to be Georgia's developing ties with Iran, according to an asylum lawyer who requested anonymity.

According to the report, Pastor Reza Fazeli told investigators that in July 2024 he was summoned to a meeting of Georgia's secret service where he was told that Georgian authorities were more committed to the "Vienna Convention on Foreign Relations" than to the "Refugee Convention." "

“They said diplomatic relations are more important,” Pastor Fazzelli said. “For them, diplomatic relations come first, and ‘secondly, we have to follow the refugee and asylum seeker rules.’”

According to the report, Pastor Fazzelli stated that he was ordered at the meeting to “close the church, refrain from gatherings of more than five people, and not give interviews to any news agency.” At the time the report was written, the pastor's church was closed.

The report said trade between Georgia and Iran officially reached $270 million in 2023, and could “unofficially” reach $500 million.

Source: News

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me (John 6:37-38)

Amen! God, we hear that Christians fleeing persecution in Iran are seeking asylum in Georgia but are not being accepted by the government.

We ask that you have compassion on the Iranian Christians who have nowhere else to go because even Turkiye will not accept them. Help them to realize what You have called them out of Iran to do: go wherever You send them, plant churches wherever they go, and raise up a reviving people!

We also pray for the Georgian Orthodox Church. May they not turn away from their brothers and sisters in Iran who are suffering because of intolerance toward Christianity other than the Georgian Orthodox Church.

As Jesus accepted and did not turn away all who came to Him, may the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Georgian authorities be filled with the love of Jesus to embrace the Iranian Christians who have fled.

Allow them to realize what God wants to accomplish through the Georgian Orthodox Church, and help Georgia to become a nation that serves other peoples, beginning with the Iranian people!