Joseph Hovsepian, son of martyred Iranian Bishop Haik Hovsepian, speaks with DAVID ADAMS about what’s been happening in Iran in the wake of the June re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his heart for the Farsi-speaking church and why he and his brother made the documentary of his father’s death, A Cry From Iran…
Joseph Hovsepian, son of martyred Iranian Bishop Haik Hovsepian, speaks about what’s been happening in Iran in the wake of the June re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his heart for the Farsi-speaking church and why he and his brother made the documentary of his father’s death, A Cry From Iran…
What are you hearing from friends and family living in Iran about the recent situation there?
“We hear that people are living in a state of fear and confusion in Iran. They are frustrated and tension is very visible in their daily lives. Of course, we hear that they still do their grocery shopping and most of them still go to work and live their everyday lives. However, there is this deep hidden fear and mixed emotions that they have to live with daily. As time goes by, the public get even more frustrated from the government and the forcing of Islamic laws.”
How is the situation in Iran affecting Christians living in the country?
“If this is how brutally the Iranian government cracks down on it’s own Muslim protesters who shout ‘Alaho Akbar’ (God is great!), just imagine how much worse it could be for Christians protesting and calling Jesus’ name for help. So, the Christians in Iran are not excluded from fear of the uproar.”
“I strongly believe that Iran will not be the same anymore, and they would have to make some changes in order to keep the public at least partially satisfied and quiet. However, the government in Iran has proved to be a strong and persistent one towards such situations…”
– Joseph Hovsepian on the recent protests in Iran.
How has the church in the country responded?
“The general feeling portrayed by the media about the Iranian people is the same of the church as far as the tension, fear of safety and a state of confusion as for what’s going to happen next. However, the church is more optimistic because now they see a window of opportunity to share the Gospel with the new generation which is very tired of the dictatorship and the forcing of the Islamic religion on people. The current events in Iran have united the church in Iran. They are gathering together and praying that the Lord would make something good come out of this protests and the world’s spotlight.”
Do you believe the protests will eventually lead to a change of regime in Iran?
“I strongly believe that Iran will not be the same anymore, and they would have to make some changes in order to keep the public at least partially satisfied and quiet. However, the government in Iran has proved to be a strong and persistent one towards such situations and when we look at the history of uprisings and protests in Iran after the revolution, we realise that the government will do anything to keep it’s Islamic regime standing firm in the ruling of the country. Also, there are still many conservative Muslims in power who are standing behind their revolutionary cause. So, I think it’ll be too optimistic to think that a change of regime will occur very soon. But, I think as time passes, and the youth of Iran are becoming the next generation of the nation, there is a higher chance for a change in regime.”
Your father, Bishop Haik Hovsepian, was killed in Iran in 1994 when he was stabbed to death. How has that event shaped your life?
“The martyrdom of my father has shaped our lives in experiencing the daily forgiveness and healing that God brought about, has motivated and inspired our family to share the message of forgiveness and love with the world, and to continue the work that my father had invested his whole life into.”
Have recent events – in particular the death of 26-year-old Neda Agah-Soltan, who was apparently killed by a stray bullet when attending a protest in Tehren and subsequently had her death shown around the world via the internet – rekindled memories of that?
“The murder of Neda Agah-Soltan…while standing on a street in Tehran during a protest, brought back the memory of the brutal killing of Haik. I remembered the shocking moment in 1994 when I saw my father’s bloody dead body in the morgue. The second time we watched the clip on YouTube with my family, we all cried. At first the reaction was anger and hatred followed by practicing daily forgiveness. We continue to pray as many did for us during my father’s martyrdom.”
In 2007, you and your brother Andre – in conjunction with persecuted church advocate Open Doors – released a 55 minute documentary, A Cry From Iran, which was based on the circumstances leading to your father’s death. What was your purpose in making the documentary?
“One of the reasons we wanted to make the documentary was to raise awareness of religious intolerance, particularly toward Christian leaders who were kidnapped and martyred, and human rights violations throughout the world. We also made the documentary to honor my father and other martyrs in Iran.”
What has the response to the film been like?
“People have embraced the film with an open heart. We have received great feedback both from public viewers and critics. We were happy to win twelve awards in various film festivals. But, what mattered more to us was the level of positive response from both Christians and non-Christians. It has been an eye opener for many to learn of the situation for Christians in Iran. It has inspired many to pray faithfully for the persecuted Church and many people said that they were encouraged to forgive those they had not forgiven for many years after watching the documentary. All the credit goes to our Lord, Jesus who can heal and comfort and work miracles in impossible circumstances.”
These days you live in Los Angeles – what are you doing there?
“We are all involved in ministering to the Muslim world through different opportunities. After my father’s martyrdom, we are trying to continue in his footsteps. The goal of our ministry is to create the tools for the spiritual growth, equipping and mobilising the Farsi speaking church around the world, and to share the love of Christ through media as a powerful tool, specifically targeting the Iranian youth, who are the majority population of Iran today. As a family, we also travel to different churches around the world and encourage believers to pray for the persecuted family of God.”
What is life generally like for Christians living in Iran?
“Believers who are active in churches or the home church movement are pressured; they are questioned, arrested and sometimes interrogated, tortured, put in jail and beaten. Individual believers are oppressed by society, under pressure by the authorities. They have difficulty in finding and keeping a job and are then easily fired when it becomes known they are Christian. Believers who start a business of their own have problems getting and keeping clients making it very hard for them to gain an income. However, the number of Christians in the home churches is growing fast with many being reached through satellite TV and the internet. Muslim background believers from Iran tell about visions and dreams as a reason for converting, more than any other country in the Middle East.”
What can Christians elsewhere in the world be praying for when it comes to Iran?
“1. The persecuted church in Iran – the church has experienced severe persecution and restrictions since the 1979 revolution. In the last year, this intimidation of Christians has intensified. We pray for protection, wisdom and boldness for our brothers and sisters in Iran.
2. For revival in Iran – Most of Iran’s 70 million people have never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel. We pray that every Iranian will hear and understand the Gospel and that millions will repent and be saved.
3. For God to intervene in the political situation – we pray that God will give Iran righteous and humble leaders who will act justly and love mercy.”
~ www.acryfromiran.com
~ www.OpenDoorsUSA.org
