It is with sincere thanks to our reader, Garduneh Mehr, who spent the time and effort to translate the following article from Persian for the other readers of the Jawa Report, that I post the following:

[This is a translation of a Persian article entitled “Persecution of the Church in Iran” from http://www.hra-iran.blogfa.com/post-257.aspx The translator’s notes are enclosed in square braces.]

In the Name of Liberty

In recent months we have witnessed persecution of religious minorities in Iran, including threats, [unlawful] arrests and murders. Our Christian compatriots are constantly targets of torment and harassment. The following describes a small portion of the murders, threats and arrests that Christian Iranians have been subjected to:

Murders:

1. In
   2005, Mr. Ghorban Tarani
   a Christian missionary was murdered under strange circumstances in the
   town of “Gonbad”.

Arrests:

2. In the
   town of “Gorgaan” a church custodian was
   arrested and imprisoned on the charge of being a Christian. During his
   imprisonment he was subjected to constant interrogation.


3. One of
   the parishioners of the Church in the town of “ class=SpellE>Hamadan” by the name Dr. class=SpellE>Mehrdaad along with his wife and eight year old child
   were arrested and imprisoned by the agents of the government Ministry of
   Intelligence.


4. In
   2004, four parishioners of a Church in the town of style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “Chaa-Loos”
   were arrested by the agents of the regime and tried in “Revolutionary
   Court”; some were handed death sentences. The
   four were freed only after international pressure was brought to bear on
   the regime.


5. In the
   town of “Chaa-Loos” a
   Christian family including their children ( Hour="13">one thirteen class=GramE> year old and an eighteen year old) were arrested by
   the [regime’s] ministry of intelligence.


6. In the
   town of  “ class=SpellE>Mashhad” Ms. Freshteh
   Dibaaj daughter of Rev. Mehdi
   Dibaaj was arrested while in Church along with
   her husband and imprisoned by the [regime’s] ministry of
   intelligence. The two were interrogated for more than two weeks. The
   reader is reminded that this is the same “home Church” that was run by
   Rev. Say’yed Sudmand
   who himself was put to death for his faith. [“ class=GramE>home church” refers to people converting their homes to
   churches and holding services there. It is worth noting that the
   prefix Say’yed in the name of Rev. class=SpellE>Sudmand signifies that he is actually descended from
   the family of Mohammad and was convert to
   Christianity.]


7. In the
   town of “Sanandaj” Mr. Ghane
   a parishioner of a home Church who had been repeatedly harassed and
   threatened by the agents of the regime was arrested; nothing is known
   about his fate.


8. In the
   town of “Shahin-shahr” the spouse of one of our
   Christian compatriots was arrested and imprisoned where he was subjected
   to torture which result in him being hospitalized.

Families who inquire about their imprisoned children [and loved ones] are either told nothing or are threatened by the ministry of intelligence.

Some of the ways in which Christians are harassed are as follows:

9. The
   agents of the regime videotape and photograph parishioners entering and
   leaving church services.


10. Carrying
    more than one Bible with you is considered a crime.


11. Importation
    and printing of religious texts are forbidden by the regime; and anyone
    involved in such activities is arrested.


12. Active
    individuals receive threatening phone calls.

In the past years many of our Christian compatriots [Iranians] have, as a result of persistent persecution, been forced to abandon their homes and homeland and seek refuge in foreign lands.

[It is worth noting that the “Three Wise Men from the East” who foresaw the birth of Christ and worshipped the newly born Jesus were Iranian Magi. The Magi were the cast of the learned whose social function was to literate their fellow citizens in material and spiritual matters. Their line was brought to a brutal end by the Islamo-Arab hordes who believed that the only thing worth
learning is the Qoran.]

Posted by: Ragnar at 08:56 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
Post contains 490 words, total size 6 kb.

1 Should all of the christians in Iran be offered sanctuary in the United States?

Posted by: John Ryan at November 20, 2006 10:47 PM (TcoRJ)

2 This sounds like some sort of profiling !

Posted by: John Ryan at November 20, 2006 11:16 PM (TcoRJ)

3 Islam is only "tolerant" where they are a minority.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at November 20, 2006 11:20 PM (8e/V4)

4 On a related note, did anyone watch Robert Spencer's debate with that MPAC woman tonight?  I'd like someone to YouTube it.  I'm kinda in a little skirmish with a British Islamist right now. 

Posted by: Northern Cross at November 20, 2006 11:37 PM (7vz05)

5 Should John Ryan continue to be offered sanctuary at the Jawa Report?

Posted by: Vinnie at November 21, 2006 02:16 AM (/qy9A)

6 Why is the persecution of Christians a bigger deal in Iran than the persecution of all other religions in all muslim nations. Nice article, but the same thing is happening in all 57 muslim dominated countries. Sooner or later (I vote for sooner) America will have to bump heads with Iran. We cannot consider a tiny minority when we BLOW THE SHIT OUT OF THE IRANIAN SCUM.

Posted by: Greyrooster at November 21, 2006 05:04 AM (Mgy1K)

7 Many thanks Ragnar,
As we Iranians say "Shaad zee" meaning "Live happily"
Best
/GM

Posted by: Garduneh Mehr at November 21, 2006 09:37 AM (1juA+)

8 Whatever, all monotheistic religious groups are potential murderers. Christians are not really diffrent from Muslims here. Christians are just driven to murderous extremes a little less often. But monotheism always demands the murder of the unbelievers.

Posted by: Mr. Meow at November 21, 2006 02:01 PM (cYBtu)

9 in reply to Mr. Meow, what a load of old cobblers, Christianity is completely different to Islam and teaches the opposite, Jesus never taught murder, or revenge, you need to get your facts right before you start mouthing off about other religions, do not tar the faith of Jesus Christ with the same stick as murders who worship the moon god allah! The truth is Christians are now the most persecuted people world wide thats why this article is important, and they are being hounded by Muslims because muslims hate jews and hate Christians.

Going back to the original subject, I'm currently in conversation with an ex-muslim convert over in Terhan, she runs a house church and says every sunday Muslims are coming to know Jesus, so you can see why the goverment are waiting to stop this. She is in danger every day because she translates Christian books into farsi, this is a serious crime never mind apostasy.

Posted by: jay at November 23, 2006 07:40 AM (8+12a)

10 Mr Meow you truly are an idiot. I have read both the bible and the Quran/hadith. As an atheist I accept neither but to say that Christians are "not really different from Muslims" is pure nonesense. In Quran/hadtih the violent muhammed raped, killed and demanded as a matter of course that the muslims do the same in the name of allah as part of thier show of faith. In Christ commands of the christians there is no such 'demands' hence there is no biblical justification for its followers to do that. Yeah Im an atheist but at lest I have my eyes wife fucking open bud.

Posted by: American Atheist at November 23, 2006 03:36 PM (wPo5m)

11 "But monotheism always demands the murder of the unbelievers"

since when? Only in Islamic monotheism not Christian or Jewish because its not in their scriptures.

Anyway that monotheism demands this an extremely bigoted and ignorant statement.

Whats wrong Mr Meow did you grow up in a strict catholic family and now (let me guess) after you start feeling a little shame for all the sins you have done you hate those "Christians" huh?

Posted by: Mr Meow is a bigot at November 23, 2006 03:43 PM (wPo5m)

12 To say that monothesim demands the murder of unbelivers = is a bigoted statement. I bet Mr Meow has a little case of the 'shame'ies dont we now. Mr Meow go back and smoke some weed you retard the rest of us are trying to work

Posted by: Mr Meow is a bigot at November 23, 2006 03:45 PM (wPo5m)

13 Mr Meow: Seems like others have beaten me to it. Have a nice day. Jerk!

Posted by: Greyrooster at November 26, 2006 10:12 PM (aghaS)

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