6th February 2010
Iranian Church Growing Despite Increased Persecution
Mark Hanson
Christians in Iran are facing an increased risk of arrest during the current troubles.
14 believers are now known to be in prison, some in the notorious Evin prison, and many were arrested following the protests after the disputed election in June of last year.
Converts from Islam face a possible death penalty in Iran under laws governing what Muslims call “apostasy”. Six of the detained Christians have been told that they will be charged with apostasy.
The 14 Christians will find it almost impossible to have access to legal representation. The few human rights lawyers left in the country regard the fate of Christians as of secondary importance to the rights of Muslims, and if they did represent believers then there is increased danger.
Despite these tribulations, Iranian Christians are becoming bolder in sharing their faith, and the Church in Iran is seeing immense growth.
