Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security has ordered the last two officially registered churches holding Friday Farsi-language services in Tehran to discontinue them. The order was announced on 10 February 2012.
Emmanuel Protestant Church and St. Peter's Evangelical Church (pictured), both Presbyterian, are among the few officially registered churches serving Iran's Armenian and Assyrian communities, and most of their services are conducted in the Armenian and Assyrian languages.
Farsi, or Persian, is the official language of Iran, and is used in house churches, which are mainly composed of Christians who were formerly Muslims. Unlike the Armenian and Assyrian churches, house churches are not officially recognised in Iran, and if discovered the authorities detain and interrogate members, viewing them as pro-West and opposed to the Iranian regime.
A third church that had been holding Friday Farsi services, the Central Church of Tehran, an Assemblies of God congregation, had been ordered to cease holding them in late 2009. In December 2011, the authorities enforced a policy under which only invited guests could attend a Christmas service, and they have prohibited musical worship and Bible distribution.
There are now no Farsi services on Fridays in any officially registered church in Tehran. Friday services attracted many people (especially Muslims interested in Christianity and those who had become Christians) as Friday is most Iranians' day off. The authorities told the churches that they may hold the services on Sundays, but Sunday is a working day when most Iranians are not able to attend. The restrictions are said to have cut attendance by half.
Emmanuel, St. Peter's and the Central Church, which mainly serve the Armenian and Assyrian minorities, hold their Armenian- and Assyrian- language services on Sundays. While government officials cannot stop them operating, they are trying to limit the spread of Christianity to Farsi speakers and to prevent access to Christian worship for the growing number of Christians from a Muslim background.
An Iranian Christian claims that the authorities recently pressurised the leaders of Emmanuel and St. Peter's to give them the national identity numbers of Christians, saying, "The authorities pushed the bosses to fire their Christian employees." As a result, many Christians from these churches and from the Central Church have lost their jobs.
RECENT ARRESTS
On 8 February, Masis Moussian (pictured), an elder of the Narmak Assemblies of God church in Tehran, was arrested. He is an Armenian, married with two children. Some media have reported that members of his church are "extreme Christians" trying to recruit new members, particularly youths. Masis Moussian is being held at the Rajaei-Shahr prison in Gohardasht, about 20 km west of Tehran. He is not allowed visitors, and no reason has been given for his arrest.
Also on 8 February, the authorities raided a house church in the southern city of Shiraz and arrested about ten Christians, former Muslims. The authorities searched their homes and confiscated Bibles, CDs, computers, fax machines and satellite receivers. The Christians are being held at an unknown location.
STILL IN PRISON
Other Iranian Christians who remain in prison include Farhad Sabokroh, Naser Zamen-Dezfuli and Davoud Alijani. They were arrested at a Christmas service on 23 December 2011 in Ahwaz, 874 km southwest of Tehran. They are being held in Karoun Prison, and have not been formally charged. Farhad Sabokroh underwent cataract surgery prior to his arrest and in prison he does not have access to the medication he needs. His wife visited him briefly on 27 January and said she was concerned about his health, as he has lost a lot of weight. She too had been arrested, but was released on 1 January when she submitted house deeds as bail.
Noorollah Qabitizade, arrested on 24 December 2010, is also being held at the Karoun prison in Ahwaz. Interrogators have put psychological pressure on him and have forced him to sign statements in an effort to make him renounce his faith.
Farshid Fathi, also arrested on 24 December 2010, remains in Evin prison in Tehran. It is reported that a court hearing has been scheduled for this month, February 2012.
Fariborz Arazm and Behnam Irani are being held in prison in Karaj. Behnam, of the Church of Iran, has been in prison since May 2011, when he turned himself in after the authorities issued a warrant for his arrest. He was previously arrested in April 2010 and released on bail after a few months. In January 2011 a court found him guilty of "crimes against national security" and sentenced him to one year in prison; the authorities told him he must also serve a five-year sentence handed down in 2008.
Leila Mohammadi, who was arrested in July 2011 and spent 74 days in solitary confinement in Evin prison, was released on bail on 28 December 2011. On 18 January, she was sentenced to two years in prison for "collaborating with foreign-dependent groups, broad anti-Islamic propaganda, deceiving citizens by forming house churches, insulting sacred figures and acting against national security". Her lawyer has sent her case to Tehran Province's high court.
Youcef Nadarkhani remains in prison in Rasht, under sentence of death for apostasy. An execution order has been signed for him. (Compass Direct News, FCNN, Middle East Concern, Mohabat News)
