[Today’s Prayer] Iran: More than 300 Christians Prosecuted in Capital Alone

Human rights activists have warned that “Christianity in Iran is in crisis” and that “the repression of religious minorities has become more severe.”

Citing a recent report by the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), the British Christian Today (CT) reported that “more than 300 Christians have been prosecuted in the capital Tehran alone, and around 100 have been sentenced to long prison terms for their faith.”

According to data collected by Article 18, in 2024, 96 Christians will be sentenced to a total of 263 years in prison (an average of 2.73 years per person), and in 2023, 22 Christians will be sentenced to a total of 43.5 years in prison (an average of 1.97 years per person).

Iran officially recognizes Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, but in reality, non-Muslims are severely restricted and persecuted. In particular, those who convert from Islam to another religion face serious threats, including the death penalty.

Article 500 of the Iranian Penal Code requires severe punishment for any deviant educational or missionary activity that contradicts or is contrary to Islamic law.

“The Christian community in Iran is in crisis,” CHRI Executive Director Hadi Ghaemi told Iran International. “The Iranian authorities are kidnapping more and more Christians and imprisoning them for years on absurd charges of threatening national security. But they are not guilty of anything else than peacefully practicing their faith.”

Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, said in her 2023/24 report on Iran that “the treatment of Christians and other minority groups in Iran was raised by Amnesty International's findings that religious minorities face discrimination in law and practice, including in education, employment, child adoption, political status and access to places of worship. Hundreds have been subjected to arbitrary detention, unjust prosecution, torture and other ill-treatment because of their profession or practice of their faith.”

Source: News

Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. (2 Thessalonians 1: 4-5)

Lord, we hear of the prosecution of more than 300 Christians in the capital of Iran, and the severe restrictions and persecution of non-Muslims. We see that the world is persecuting the Church of Iran to bring it down.

God, we lift up all the members of the Church in Iran into your hands at this time. We ask that You will protect them in the midst of this land of fear and oppression due to regime control.

As the Church of Iran perseveres in faith and perseveres in your ways, we trust that you will recognize them as a church worthy of your kingdom.

In the midst of persecution and suffering, add to their hearts the heart of Jesus, that they may rise up as those whom the world cannot contain!

As we look at the steps of faith of the Church of Iran, we want Iran to see You. We pray that the church in Iran will rise up to share the love of Jesus in the midst of suffering.

Let all lies and Satan's deception in Iran be cut off, and let Iran be restored by the gospel and become a nation that dreams of Your kingdom!

As many in Iran hear the gospel, we believe that they will rise up as those who advance among the nations with the gospel! Let us rise up as an Iran that welcomes You with all nations!