ICC Note: A year-end report compiled by Mohabat News, Iranian persecution of Christians reached a new peak in 2016. According to the statistics, 92 Christians are currently imprisoned for their faith, tens of of churches were closed with their members interrogated, several historic buildings were destroyed, and many Iranian Christians were forced to flee their home country. The Iranian government has stepped up its game in systematic suppression of the Christian faith.

12/29/2016 Iran (Mohabat News): December 10 of every year is marked as the International Human Rights Day and Iran as a signatory country of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights observes this day, while Iranian citizens from all walks of life suffer severe violation of their basic Human Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes freedom of thought, speech and religion among the most basic rights every human being should be entitled to. In Iran, however, ethnic minorities, political dissidents, journalists, social and civic activists and religious minorities face violation of their Human Rights on a regular basis.

The Human Rights situation of Iranian Christians in 2016 has gotten worse compared to last year. Mohabat News has compiled a brief overview of the situation of Iranian Christians, which reveals a heightened and more organized oppression of Christians in the country.

According to the latest statistics, 92 Christian converts are currently imprisoned in Iran, awaiting, in uncertainty, to be tried. This is only a published figure and by no means reflects the actual number of Christians in prison for their faith.

Last year, tens of house churches were closed and their members interrogated, harassed and lost their jobs for faith related reasons. Additionally, several historic Christian buildings were destroyed and many Iranian Christians were forced to leave their home country.

Most importantly, last year we witnessed a steep rise in organized, government sponsored anti-Christian campaigns. Most of these campaigns had been planned and thought through for years prior to last year and were only implemented in 2016. Below are a few of manifestation of Iran’s aggressive anti-Christian campaign:

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