Iran in the 2022 Open Doors report

The Open Doors Organization published its report on the situation of Christian in Iran. Every year, the organization provides a detailed report on the situation of the persecuted churches.

According to the report of this organization, in 2022, Iran is still in the top ten dangerous countries for Ex-Muslim Christian. Iran is the ninth most dangerous country for churches and Christians, after Afghanistan, North Korea, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Eritrea, Nigeria and Pakistan.

According to the report, the government considers the growth of the church in Iran as an attempt by Western countries to weaken Islam and the Islamic regime in Iran. Home-grown groups with Muslim backgrounds are often attacked, and their leaders and members arrested, charged with "acting against national security," prosecuted, and sentenced to long prison terms.

The Armenian and Assyrian Christian communities are recognized by the government, but they are treated as second-class citizens and are not allowed to contact Christians with an Islamic background. According to the report, the intensity of persecution of Christians in Iran has remained largely unchanged.

 Things are getting worse following changes in the country's penal code, which further stifle religious freedom. According to these amendments, teaching the Bible or preaching to others about the Christian faith - which is contrary to the teachings of Islam - could lead to legal action. Under the new penal code, Christians can associate with Jesus Christ as God, who is recognized by Islamic teachings as a prophet, which in Islam is considered blasphemy. Christians can also be accused of "blasphemy with intent to create violence or tension."

Regarding the change in the situation of Christian converts compared to last year, the organization believes that there may be more challenges during the time of Ibrahim Ra'isi as the new president of the country. He is known as an extremist Shiite with very conservative Islamic views

Source and Credit: open doors