Continued Growth of Underground Churches in Iran

Despite the Iranian government's efforts and strict measures to prevent the spread of Christianity, the growth of underground churches in Iran continues. Fox News reports that hundreds of Iranian citizens have converted to Christianity and are baptized in large ceremonies that are usually held in underground churches in people's homes across the country. An evangelical organization called the Ilam Church estimates that over 200 Iranians and Afghans were baptized in a large and secret ceremony held near the Iranian border this month. Mani Irfan, founder and director of the Christian Guidance Society (CCM), who has participated in the underground church movement in Iran for over two decades, states: 'This is an astronomical increase, and most of them are young people. We describe it as a wave of awakening.' Mani Irfan adds that a significant portion of Iranian youth are fed up with the oppressive religious laws of the government, which often distort Islamic teachings. He says, 'Young people are frustrated and are looking for alternatives to the regime and Islam. For them, Western culture and the Christian church are very appealing. It has become a culture to fight against the dominant culture, which can be considered a dissent against the 1979 Iranian Revolution.' Most Christians in Iran are forced to obtain Christian education resources through satellite, social media, or by holding meetings in the homes of priests and other religious guides. 'End the harassment of Christian converts in Iran' - The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, along with 18 other human rights organizations, including United for Iran, Article 18, and Third Sphere, called on the international community to end the harassment of Christian converts in Iran in a joint statement on Tuesday, December 9. The statement notes, 'Iranian authorities intensified pressure on the community of Christian converts with Islamic backgrounds to its highest level in the summer of 1395 (2016).' The statement from these human rights organizations adds, 'According to reports from reliable sources and relatives, security agents have arrested 79 Christians in various parts of Iran between the months of Ordibehesht and Mordad 95 (April to August 2016). The vast majority of them were subjected to continuous interrogation for several days to a month or remained in detention.' Since the 1979 Revolution, several church leaders in Iran have been killed, and hundreds of Christians have been interrogated and imprisoned. Printing the Bible in Persian has been banned, and some churches have been closed, and church ceremonies have been prevented. In this context, five Christians were arrested in Firuzkuh, and three Christians in Iran were released after 45 days; the situation of two other detainees remains uncertain.