Three Christians are Unlawfully Detained in Tabriz

Information is emerging about the unlawful detention of three Iranian Christians, Farshid Modares-Aval, Mohammad-Reza Pirri, and Yashar Farzin-No.

According to Mohabat News, the men were arrested on July 20 during a raid by security forces in Tabriz. Since their arrest, they have remained at the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in Tabriz prison. Police have also searched their homes and confiscated some of their possessions.

Officials have not explained why the men are detained. Troubled by the lack of information, the families of these prisoners have questioned judicial authorities about the conditions their loved ones are facing. Recipients of these inquiries have been largely unresponsive, but reports have confirmed that the prisoners have been subjected to beatings. The beatings inflicted on Mohammad-Reza Pirri were brutal enough to cause him to be hospitalized for four days.

Oftentimes when Iranians seek information about their detained family members, they are promised that their loved ones can be discharged early, on condition they are secretive about the incarceration. Sometimes if authorities fail to uphold this promise, families decide to speak publicly about the incident.

Iranian government officials liken house churches to Western-influenced political groups that intend to overthrow Iran’s theocratic system. None of Iran’s imprisoned Christians have been conclusively linked with anti-government conspirators.

  • Current Ministry Fund

    By funding television broadcasts, VOMC is making it possible for a vast audience of viewers to be reached throughout Iran with the "Good News" of Jesus' love via satellite.

    Project Fund: Underground Church

  • Country Information

    Designation
    Persecuted

    Population
    87,590,873 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity
    Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes

    Religion (%)
    Islam (98.5), Christian (0.7), Baha'i (0.3), agnostic (0.3), other (0.2)

    Leader
    Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (1989)

    Government type
    Theocratic republic

    Legal system
    Religious legal system based on secular and Islamic law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Iran

    As the Gospel message goes forth over the airwaves, may the growth of the church continue to multiply despite persecution. Pray that the Iranian government will be open to change, allowing full rights and protection for its non-Muslim citizens as well. In the meantime, may those who are forced to flee the country find safe refuge and help so they can live in peace and worship the Lord with freedom.

Iran News

  • Armenian Christian Faces Ten-Year Sentence
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Photo: Article18

    Hakop Gochumyan and his wife Elisa are citizens of Armenia who went to Iran for vacation in August 2023. While the Christian couple and their two children were having dinner at a friend's house, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the property. The authorities took the Christian family to the home of Elisa's grandmother, where the believers had been staying, and proceeded to search the residence. During the raid, Christian books and other personal belongings were confiscated. The couple was then taken to Evin Prison where they faced interrogation and intense psychological torture.

  • Esmaeil Narimanpour Sentenced to Prison
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Photo: Article18

    On Christmas Eve of 2023, Esmaeil Narimanpour was apprehended by security forces. The Iranian follower of Jesus was charged with "acting against national security by communicating with Christian 'Zionist' organizations." As of April 30th, he was released on bail after spending more than four months in detention. For more details relating to his case, see these previously posted reports.