by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - In a sudden spike of persecution against Christians in Iran, government authorities arrested and detained more than 50 Christians in five cities across Iran in the last 10 days, Article 18 reports.
A UK-based non-profit religious advocacy group, Article 18 said in its report that at least 51 of the recently arrested Iranian Christians remain in detention on unknown charges. They were taken from their homes or house-churches – in the cities of Tehran, Karaj, Rasht, Orumiyeh, and Aligoudarz. A number of others were released on bail.
In a statement about the arrests, Article 18 advocacy director Mansour Borji said: “The reason for this sudden surge in nationwide arrests of Christians is not clear at this stage. What is obvious is that Iran has begun a fresh crackdown on civil liberties, and the traditionally vulnerable groups, like Christians, are on the front line of those targeted.”
Borji notes that the fresh action against Christians may also be related to the upcoming anniversary of the death in custody of Mahsi Amini, a young woman who was arrested for wearing her hijab incorrectly: her death in September triggered anti-government protests across Iran last year.
“The relative withdrawal of the so-called ‘morality police’ forces from the streets in recent months was perhaps an attempt to restore peace after months of protests that were violently suppressed,” Borji said. “However, that approach seems now to have given way to a new wave of aggressive social policing, which could potentially reignite protests, as only within a day of visibly reintroducing the morality police the people are back on the streets.”
Iran is ruled by a harsh Islamic regime and ranks 8th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.