QOM, Iran — Speeches by Iranian religious and political figures between August and October who acknowledged the existence of home fellowships and condemned them as a threat to the state triggered Iran’s crackdown on Christians in the past few months, analysts said.
In the past few weeks, Iranian authorities have arrested more than 70 Christians after previous roundups near Christmas, according to a report by Elam Ministries. With the release of seven Christians at the end of January after they spent a month in solitary confinement, at least 26 Christians remain incarcerated.
Sources said the number of Christians detained since Christmas could now be as high as 120. Though authorities have released most of the Christians after interrogations, many of them are still in prison, especially house group leaders. Many released in January had to sign statements saying they would not attend church again. Iranian leaders have described house churches as the work of the “enemy,” analysts said.
On Oct. 19 in Qom, Iran’s religious center, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran’s enemies want to shake the country’s religious and societal values through the spread of Baha’ism and a network of Christian house churches. Khamenei’s speech marked the fifth public statement from an Iranian leader condemning Iranian Christians in the three-month period.
“The public statements show that the government acknowledges the presence of the church and considers it a threat,” a regional analyst who requested anonymity said. “It’s striking they have been talking about it publicly in a way they haven’t previously.”
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