Since December 28, Iran has been plunged into a wave of demonstrations led by thousands of citizens who took to the streets to protest various government measures.
The Ayatollah regime responded immediately with violence in an attempt to stop the protests, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people.
MARTA PETROSILLO
Editor-in-chief of ACN Religious Freedom
Students and workers joined the protest, especially many young people, because Iran is a country where most of the population is young. The median age is around 34 years. So these protests spread all over the country, and, according to the news we have there are protests in more than 200 cities, basically in all the country.
In addition to the protests, minorities are facing attacks on their religious freedom. Arrests have become normalized. Inside prisons, Christians are pressured to convert or to admit that they practiced their faith illegally.
MARTA PETROSILLO
Editor-in-chief of ACN Religious Freedom
For instance, in the prison near Tehran, the Evin prison: this prison was recognized as one of the most notorious prisons in the world to deny rights, to oppress prisoners convicted because of religious conscience reasons. And in these prisons, it is believed that 60% of all the Christians prisoners in Iran are convicted because of their faith.
Detentions and arrests due to differing faith are on the rise, and with restricted access to the Internet in the country, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain reliable information about the situation of Christians there.
MARTA PETROSILLO
Editor-in-chief of ACN Religious Freedom
The arrest of Christians because of their faith is a widespread problem, and they are often charged falsely with accusations like propaganda against the regime.
The past few years have been some of the worst for Christians – not just in Iran, but worldwide. Christian persecution is reaching alarming levels globally.
Increased numbers of Christian persecution were confirmed by the 2026 World Watch List of the organization Open Doors, with Syria and Nigeria at the top of the list.
AT
Trans. CRT/JPO
