Former Leader of the Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Tehran Arrested

Reports indicate that Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, the former leader of the Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Tehran (Shahrara), along with two friends, was arrested by security forces on December 26. Mansour Borji, spokesperson for the 'Iranian Churches Together' comprising Protestant and Evangelical churches, told Radio Farda that security forces searched the pastor's home, confiscating some personal belongings, and transferred him to Evin Prison. Reports suggest that Pastor Bet Tamraz has faced pressure from the Islamic Republic authorities multiple times for conducting church services in Persian. Ultimately, he was dismissed from his position on March 31, 2009, for not canceling these sessions. Borji also noted that in recent years, the wave of arrests of active Christians during Christmas has become a routine. The tendency of Iranians to participate in Christmas celebrations is one of the reasons for the security authorities' sensitivity to this particular Christian occasion. He previously discussed the growth and expansion of Christianity in Iran despite the Islamic Republic's strict measures. The spokesperson stated that for several years, the expansion of Christianity, especially with the pressures applied to official churches, has drawn the attention of officials, who have issued warnings regarding the rise of house churches. Ayatollah Khamenei's statements in Qom regarding house churches and the Baha'i Faith as enemies of the regime have given a political dimension to religious activities in Iran. Borji added, 'Since then, we have witnessed numerous comments from officials on this matter, leading to widespread arrests and increased pressures on official churches, and this concerning situation continues to escalate.'