Country: Iran

Group: Christi/Christians

Date: 04/22/2021

Team: Vianney Mancilla (lead) and Alicia Hernandez

Substantial evidence indicates that Iranian Christians have faced forced displacement. The sources were detailed, consistent, and reputable. Therefore, the data quality was rated a 3.

Due to the governmental policies enacted during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the population of Armenian Christians in Iran dropped from 300,000 to 250,000-200,000 (The University of Maryland, 2006). Since the late 20th and early 21st century, the Iranian government has religiously persecuted the Iranian Christians (The University of Maryland, 2006). Larger Christian groups such as the Armenians and Assyrians are recognized, unlike smaller Christian minorities (The University of Maryland, 2006). Nonetheless, both groups face “officially sanctioned discrimination” in areas of employment, education, the legal system and property ownership (The University of Maryland, 2006). The Iranian government harasses Christians through torture, long-term imprisonment (with and without trial), unfair trials, and execution (The University of Maryland, 2006). Iran’s Intelligence services perceive organized Christian activities and contact with Christian organizations abroad as a threat to the country’s Islamic identity and national security (United Kingdom: Home Office, 2018). Christian leaders are accused of crimes “acting against national security” or “propaganda against the State” (United Kingdom: Home Office, 2018). Additionally, Iranian government authorities are suspected for the disappearances and deaths of Christian leaders in the 1990s (Minority Rights Group, 2017). In recent years, Iranian authorities have increased the number of raids on house church services, arrests of worshipers and church leaders, and severity of sentencing (United Kingdom: Home Office, 2018). Iran’s religious persecution has led Christians to flee the country at a rate of 15,000-20,000 per year since 2001, according to the United Nations Special Representative to Iran (The University of Maryland, 2006).

Sources

  1. Minority Rights Group. (2017). Iran: Christians. Retrieved from https://minorityrights.org/minorities/christians/ on April 22, 2021.
  2. United Kingdom: Home Office. (2018). Country Policy and Information Note Iran: Christians and Christian Converts. Retrieved from https://www.refworld.org/docid/5aa2aa2e7.html on April 22, 2021.
  3. The University of Maryland. (2006). Assessment for Christians in Iran. Retrieved from http://www.mar.umd.edu/assessment.asp?groupId=63010 on April 22, 2021.