CSW [Christian Solidarity Worldwide] staff monitoring religious freedom in Iran have witnessed an alarming rise in persecution of the evangelical house church network. Since June 2010, at least 282 Christians are known to have been brutally arrested and unjustly detained across the country. In response, CSW has been advocating strongly on their behalf, presenting evidence of these abuses to the United Nations and at the European Parliament.

Christians in Iran are the second largest non-Muslim religious minority among an estimated 98 per cent Muslim majority. Church leaders from inside Iran estimate that there are one million Christians living in the country but the real figure is impossible to calculate as many are converts from Islam forced to practise their faith in secret.

During the past months it has become obvious that the Iranian Government is severely pressurising Christians from the house church movement. Hundreds have been arrested. Many were brutally interrogated, suffering verbal and physical abuse. Many have been pressured to abandon their Christian faith.

 Source: Response – The newsletter of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, May/June 2011