Iran: Fearing reprisals, many Christians choose anonymity

In recent months, Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on Christian converts and those active in proselytizing, with many receiving hefty prison sentences. As reported by Article 18 on 18 June 2024, eight Iranian Christian converts from the Western city of Izeh, who were part of at least 46 Christians arrested in December 2023, have been sentenced to a combined total of nearly 45 years in prison, with Yasin Mousavi receiving the harshest sentence of 15 years.

World Watch Research analyst Michael Bosch comments: “The severity of the sentences, even where ‘evidence’ was thin, shows that the regime remains determined to oppress converts to Christianity as well as constitutionally recognized Armenian Christians when they are involved. Despite a Supreme Court ruling in November 2021 stating that participation in a house church is not to be considered an act against national security, Esmaeil Narimanpour was nonetheless sentenced for ‘acting against national security’. However, particularly worrying is the fact that almost all Christians detained during the two main waves of arrests in 2023 want to remain anonymous, out of fear of being exposed to reprisals from the Iranian authorities. Several were sentenced to months or years in prison, while others had to pay fines or were flogged (Article 18, 12 June 2024), but the worry about staying anonymous is a sign of the rising pressure on Christians, as part of the general increase in oppression in Iran.”