Iranian church closed, cross torn down
World Watch Monitor An Assyrian church in northwestern Iran has been closed down and the cross removed from its tower, reports advocacy organisation Article 18. A “large number” of agents from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and EIKO, an organisation presided over by the Supreme Leader, reportedly stormed the 100-year-old-church on 9th May, changed all the locks, […]
Jail for Iranian pastor’s son found guilty of ‘acting against national security’
World Watch Monitor The son of an influential pastor silenced by the Iranian government has been handed a four-month jail sentence for his involvement with illegal house churches, World Watch Monitor has learnt. Ramil Bet Tamraz’s lawyers were informed of the sentence for “acting against national security” on 8th July. One of the friends with […]
Iranian Christian woman pleads with UN to help family overturn “false and unjust” spy charges
World Watch Monitor An Iranian Christian woman pleaded with the UN’s Human Rights Council this week to urge Iran to overturn “false and baseless charges” imposed on her father, mother and brother. Dabrina Bet-Tamraz’s parents and brother are appealing against lengthy jail sentences they have received for church-related activities. The appeal by her father, Victor […]
POSTCARDS: IRAQ’S ASSYRIAN CHRISTIANS – PERSECUTION AND RESURGENCE
ZARA SARVARIAN, in an article first published by World Watch Monitor, reports from Qaraqosh in Iraq where Assyrian Christians are rebuilding their lives…
Iranian MPs seek to change law so voters can only vote for candidates from their own religion
World Watch Monitor Conservative MPs within Iran’s parliament are proposing that Iranians should only be allowed to vote for members of their own religious group. In Iran, where 90 to 95 per cent of the population is Shia Muslim, this will essentially mean that it will be impossible for members of religious minorities to be […]