Udlændinge- og Integrationsudvalget 2017-18
UUI Alm.del Bilag 99
Offentligt
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4/2018
IRAN
House Churches and Converts
Joint report from the Danish Immigration Service and the Danish Refugee Council
based on interviews in Tehran, Iran, Ankara, Turkey and London, United Kingdom, 9
September to 16 September 2017 and 2 October to 3 October 2017
Copenhagen, January 2018
Danish Immigration Service
Ryesgade 53
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Phone: 00 45 35 36 66 00
Web: www.newtodenmark.dk
Email: [email protected]
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Contents
DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................................................................ 2
METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................................................................................... 3
1. HOUSE CHURCHES AND CONVERTS......................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 C
ONTROL WITH THE HOUSE CHURCHES AND CONVERTS
......................................................................................................... 5
1.2 F
OLLOW
-
UP ACTIVITIES OF THE AUTHORITIES IN CASES RELATED TO MEMBERS OF HOUSE CHURCHES AND CONVERTS
.......................... 6
1.3 R
ECENT TRIAL CASES RELATED TO HOUSE CHURCHES AND CONVERTS
........................................................................................ 9
ANNEX A: CONSULTED SOURCES ...............................................................................................................................12
ANNEX B: MEETING NOTES ........................................................................................................................................13
MEETING WITH A FOREIGNER INTERACTING WITH CHRISTIANS IN IRAN ...................................................................13
MEETING WITH A SOURCE IN IRAN WHO IS WELL-INFORMED ABOUT CHRISTIANS ...................................................14
MEETING WITH A WESTERN EMBASSY (1) .................................................................................................................16
MEETING WITH A WESTERN EMBASSY (2) .................................................................................................................18
MEETING WITH A WESTERN EMBASSY (3) .................................................................................................................18
MEETING WITH A WESTERN EMBASSY (4) .................................................................................................................20
MEETING WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ..............................................................................................................21
MEETING WITH AN ANONYMOUS LEGAL SOURCE .....................................................................................................23
MEETING WITH AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE................................................................................................................23
MEETING WITH DEP. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE HIGH COUNCIL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUDICIAL
COOPERATION, IRAN .................................................................................................................................................26
MEETING WITH THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND WOMEN,
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, IRAN .......................................................................................................................28
MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION ..........................................................................29
MEETING WITH MIDDLE EAST CONCERN ...................................................................................................................30
MEETING WITH MIDDLE EAST CONSULTANCY SERVICES ............................................................................................34
ANNEX C: TERMS OF REFERENCE ...............................................................................................................................37
1
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Disclaimer
This report was written according to the EASO COI Report Methodology.
1
The report is based on approved
notes from meetings with carefully selected sources. Statements from sources are used in the report and
all statements are referenced.
This report is not, and does not purport to be, a detailed or comprehensive survey of all aspects of the
issues addressed in the report and should be weighed against other available country of origin information
on house churches and converts, including control with the house churches and converts, follow-up
activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and recent trial cases related to
house churches and converts.
The report at hand does not include any policy recommendations or analysis. The information in the report
does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Refugee Council.
Furthermore, this report is not conclusive as to the determination or merit of any particular claim to
refugee status or asylum. Terminology used should not be regarded as indicative of a particular legal
position.
1
European Union: European Asylum Support Office (EASO), EASO Country of Origin Information report methodology,
10 July 2012.
2
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Methodology
The report at hand is a product of a joint mission conducted by the Country of Origin Information Division,
Danish Immigration Service (DIS) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) to Tehran, Iran and Ankara, Turkey,
from 9 September to 16 September 2017 and a follow-up visit to London, Great Britain from 2 October to 3
October 2017.
The purpose of the mission was to collect updated information on five issues recurring in cases regarding
Iranian asylum seekers in Denmark:
Judicial issues
Relations outside of marriage in Iran and marriages without the accept of the family
Issues concerning persons of ethnic minorities, (Kurds and Ahwazi Arabs)
House churches and converts
Recruitment to the war in Syria.
The present report focuses on house churches and converts, including control with the house churches and
converts, follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and recent
trial cases related to house churches and converts. The findings regarding the four other issues are
reported in separate reports.
The terms of reference (TOR) for the mission were drawn up jointly by DIS and DRC, in consultation with
the Danish Refugee Appeals Board as well as an advisory group on COI (“Referencegruppen”).
2
The terms of
reference are included at the end of the report (Annex C).
In the scope of compiling this report, the delegation consulted 10 sources in Tehran, comprising
representatives from the Iranian authorities, diplomatic representations, two sources with knowledge
about Christians in Iran, an international organisation as well as a legal source. The Danish Embassy in
Tehran provided valuable assistance in identifying some of the interlocutors based in Tehran relevant to the
terms of reference. The Danish Embassy provided assistance during the mission to Tehran and an official
from the embassy also participated in the meetings held in Tehran. Due to the limited access to sources in
Iran, the delegation also sought to consult four sources outside of Iran, these being a consulting agency, an
international organisation and a Christian advocacy organisation based in London and finally an anonymous
source based in Ankara.
The sources interviewed were selected by the delegation based on their expertise, merit and experience
relevant to the mission.
2
The group consists of Danish Refugee Council, Amnesty International in Denmark, Danish Institute for Human Rights,
Dignity, representatives of two Christian organizations (“Europamissionen” and “Åbne Døre”), the National
Commissioner of Police and the Danish Bar and Law Society (representing asylum lawyers).
3
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The sources consulted during the mission to Tehran, Ankara and London, are listed in Annex A, and all
interviews were conducted in English.
The sources were asked how reference might be made in the report. Most sources requested varying
degrees of anonymity for the sake of discretion and upholding tolerable working conditions. All sources are
referred in the report according to their own request.
The interlocutors were informed about the purpose of the mission and the fact that their statements would
be included in a public report. The notes from the meetings with the sources were forwarded to them for
approval and amendment, allowing the opportunity to offer corrections of their statements. All sources,
except one,
3
have approved their statements. The source whose statements have not been approved did
not revert with an answer before the report’s finalisation, despite having been contacted several times.
These notes have been included in the report in the forwarded form.
Two diplomatic sources consulted in Tehran provided background information to the report, but the notes
from these meetings have not been included in the report, in accordance with the sources. In addition, the
delegation met with the National Institute of Population Research in Iran which provided background
information not directly linked to the TOR. Finally, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the department
for consular affairs in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Records from these two meetings are not
included, either.
The report is a synthesis of the sources’ statements, and does thus not include all details and nuances of
each statement. In the report, care has been taken to present views of the sources as accurately and
transparently as possible. All sources’ statements relevant for the topics of the report have been extracted
from the full meeting note with each of the particular sources and incorporated into the report, and are
found in Annex B of this report.
Paragraphs in the meeting notes in Annex B have been given consecutive numbers, which are used in the
report when referring to the statements of the sources in the footnotes. The intention hereby is to make it
easier to find the exact place of a statement in each note.
The research and editing of this report was finalised by the beginning of January 2018.
The report is available on the websites of DIS,
https://www.nyidanmark.dk/da/Ord-og-
begreber/US/Asyl/Landerapporter/
and DRC,https://flygtning.dk/nyheder-og-fakta/publikationer/rapporter
and thus available to all stakeholders in the refugee status determination process as well as to the general
public.
3
Deputy Director General of the High Council for Human Rights and Judicial Cooperation, Iran
4
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1. House Churches and Converts
1.1 Control with the house churches and converts
It is difficult for the authorities to control house churches as they are dispersed, not structured and
unknown.
4
The closure of churches affiliated with the ‘’Assembly of God’’ in 2013 has resulted in the spread
of house churches, as people who were attending the Church services began to go to house churches
instead.
5
One source noted that house churches are quite common in Iran and their numbers are growing.
According to the source, the increasing number of house churches show that they have space to operate,
even though they are illegal.
6
The authorities fear the expansion of the house churches phenomenon in
Iran.
7
The authorities use informers to infiltrate the house churches.
8
The infiltrators are identified and selected
by the authorities.
9
To prevent infiltration and intervention, house churches organise themselves as a
mobile group consisting of a small number of people.
10
A source mentioned that the prevention of external
infiltration is difficult, as the authorities use informers who pretend to be converts.
11
One source explained
that it would be a strategy for the authorities to either monitor or arrest and release members of a house
church to make an informant out of them. The authorities could use information on the person’s
background to put pressure on them.
12
House churches are monitored by the authorities.
13
If the authorities receive a report about a specific
house church, a monitoring process will be initiated, one source noted. However, the authorities will not
act immediately, as the authorities want to collect information about both the members and who is doing
what in the community.
14
Flourishing house churches are more in danger, as the authorities see these
churches as a bigger threat.
15
Whether the authorities will intervene depends on the activities of the house
church and the size of the group.
16
A source said that the house churches are systematically raided.
17
There have not been any significant changes in the authorities’ control with house churches recently.
18
4
5
An anonymous source: 65; a source who is well-informed about Christians: 18; a Western embassy (1): 24
An anonymous source: 65; Middle East Concern: 104
6
A Western embassy (4): 45
7
A source in Iran who is well-informed about Christians: 18
8
An anonymous source: 73; Middle East Concern: 104
9
An anonymous source: 73; Middle East Concern: 104
10
An anonymous source: 66; a source who is well-informed about Christians: 18
11
Middle East Concern: 104
12
An anonymous source: 73;
13
Amnesty International: 50; a source who is well informed about Christians: 17; an anonymous source: 65
14
An anonymous source: 69, 73
15
Middle East Concern: 110; an anonymous source: 67, 69
16
Amnesty International: 50
17
A source in Iran who is well-informed about Christians: 17
18
A Western Embassy (3): 35; an anonymous source: 78; a Western embassy (1): 27
5
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One source pointed out that there has been a change in the authorities monitoring of social media and
online activities.
19
Another source added that there is a widespread monitoring of telecommunication and
electronic communication if a Christian has caught the interest of the authorities. Certain keywords serve
as base for the electronic surveillance e.g. “church”, “Jesus”, “Christian” and “baptism”.
20
As it is well-
known that the authorities are tapping phones, the house members are cautious and turn off their phones
long before they reach their meeting place.
21
Furthermore, the authorities are more alerted to activities
threatening the established system.
22
There has been a change in the way the Iranian authorities look at Christians in general. The change started
after the green revolution in 2009, as the Christians are perceived to bring ideas of freedom.
23
It is unknown to what extent the Iranian authorities have the capacity to monitor everybody. The
authorities do not monitor everyone all the time; what the authorities want is to create a fear among
people that they are being monitored all the time, a source highlighted.
24
1.2 Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches
and converts
Neighbours, who have become aware of unusual activities around a house, can cause a house church to be
revealed for the authorities.
25
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran added that otherwise, the
authorities do not have the possibility to know about the house church as members are discrete about it.
26
It is unlikely that a family member will report to the authorities on a converted family member.
27
However,
it occurs in cases where the family member is a government employee or whose professional and/or social
status is affected by the Christian family member.
28
One source added that many families are loyal to the
regime and have a Basij member within the family. If there are children in the family, they could also inform
their teachers about activities in their homes, at school.
29
19
20
A Western Embassy (3): 35
Middle East Concern: 103
21
An anonymous source: 66
22
A Western Embassy (3): 35
23
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 2
24
An anonymous source: 80
25
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 7; a Western embassy (3): 39; an anonymous source: 74; a Western
embassy (1): 26
26
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 7
27
Middle East Concern: 112; a Western embassy (1); 26; a foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 6
28
Middle East Concern: 112
29
An anonymous source: 75
6
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The authorities are primarily targeting the house church leaders and secondary the members and
converts.
30
Two other sources stated that the authorities target both the leaders of the house churches and
the members.
31
The typical pattern of targeting is by arresting and releasing the house church leaders, as the authorities
want to weaken the house church. Ordinary members of house churches also risk arrest in a house
church.
32
However, they will be released again on the condition that they stay away from proselytizing. If
they stop proselytizing, the authorities will stop gathering information about them, a source added. One
source mentioned that it would be possible for an arrested convert to pay his/her way out of an arrest. The
source added that even if it is known that the person is a converted Muslim, it would be a question of the
amount of money paid to be released.
33
Whether a house church member is targeted also depends on
his/her conducted activities and if he/she is known abroad, the same source noted.
34
Ordinary house
church members risk being called in for interrogation on a regular basis as the authorities want to harass
and intimidate them, a source explained.
35
If a house church member is arrested for the first time, he/she will normally be released within 24 hours. If
he/she has been detained in prison, he/she will receive his charge within 24 hours and come to court
within ten days, a source mentioned.
36
A conversion and an anonymous life as a converted Christian in itself do not lead to an arrest,
37
but if the
conversion is followed up by other activities as for instance proselytising and training others, the case
differs;
38
the same applies if family members report the convert to the authorities.
39
One source highlighted
that if a convert does not proselytize or promote a house church, the authorities will not know about
him/her.
40
Middle East Concern, however, did not consider a life as an anonymous Christian as sustainable,
as converts, in this case, have to lie about their faith and act against their religion.
41
Amnesty International
added that a conversion might be revealed to the surrounding community if the convert does not
participate in Islamic events as many social norms and cultural activities are connected to Islam.
42
30
31
A source who is well-informed about Christians: 18; an anonymous source: 67
Amnesty International: 51; Middle East Concern: 105, 109
32
An anonymous source: 67; Middle East Concern: 105
33
A Western embassy (1): 26
34
An anonymous source: 68, 69
35
Middle East Concern: 109
36
An anonymous source: 71
37
International Organization for migration: 100; A Western embassy (3): 37; a Western embassy (4): 47; an
anonymous source: 75, 77; a Western embassy (1): 30
38
A Western Embassy (3): 37; an anonymous source: 77; a foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 8; a Western
embassy (1): 30
39
Middle East Concern: 112; an anonymous source: 75
40
A Western embassy (3): 34
41
Middle East Concern: 125
42
Amnesty International: 57
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Converts who tell their family about their conversion risk getting into trouble; they risk exclusion and
threats from the family who might think that the converted family members will create a problem for
them.
43
According to one source many converts do not tell their families about the conversion.
44
Several sources addressed the issue regarding Iranian converts returning from Europe. According to two
sources, converted returnees who do not carry out activities related to Christianity upon return will not be
of interest to the authorities.
45
Middle East Concern made the distinction whether the converted person
was known before leaving Iran or not; returning will cause problems if the convert has been known by the
authorities before leaving. If the opposite is the case, going back to Iran would not be problematic.
46
Converts who announce their conversion in public may face serious problems.
47
If the returned convert has been very outspoken about his/her conversion on social media, including
Facebook, the authorities might become aware of it and arrest and interrogate the convert upon return.
48
A
Western embassy (3) said that the subsequent process would depend on what the returnees inform the
authorities about. The embassy did not consider that the converts would receive harsh punishment if they
are not high-profiled and are not involved in propagating Christianity or activities perceived as a threat to
national security.
49
Declaring conversion on Facebook in itself does not lead to persecution but likely to monitoring.
50
One
source explained that a photo indicating a conversion posted on the internet would be evaluated by the
authorities along with the profile and activities of the converted person. If the person did not have any
previous affiliation with Christianity before leaving the country, he/she will not be persecuted.
51
If a converted person uses the religion politically to for instance compare disadvantages of Islam with
advantages of Christianity or another religion on social media, it could be a problem for him, a source
mentioned.
52
Most Iranians are not very religious, but they might see conversion as a way to come closer to
Western values, and as a protest against the system, another source mentioned.
53
However, it was
underlined that it would apply to a person who has made his/her own analysis of the two religions and not
someone who has used “copy paste” phrases.
54
43
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 6; a source in Iran who is well-informed about Christians: 14; a
Western embassy (4): 47; an anonymous source: 83
44
Amnesty International: 56
45
International Organization for Migration: 100; an anonymous source: 82
46
Middle East Concern: 122
47
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 6; Deputy director General of the High Council for Human Rights and
Judicial Cooperation: 88; International Organization for Migration: 100; A Western embassy (1): 29, 30
48
A Western embassy (3): 36; Middle East Concern: 124
49
A Western embassy (3): 36
50
Middle East Concern: 124; an anonymous source: 82
51
An anonymous source: 81, 82
52
An anonymous source: 81
53
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 2
54
An anonymous source: 81
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A baptism in itself will not have significance, according to two sources.
55
A foreigner interacting with
Christians in Iran noted that it is doubtful whether it would make a difference for the authorities if the
convert is baptized.
56
Middle East Concern source considered that a baptism, which is documented, could
alert the authorities and prove to be problematic.
57
1.3 Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
Christian converts are typically not charged with apostasy;
58
convert cases are usually considered as
national security matters
59
which are handled by the Revolutionary Court.
60
A source added that the
authorities perceive activities related to conversion as political activities.
61
Death penalty in cases related to conversion is not a common punishment.
62
A Western embassy (4)
highlighted that the implementation of the death penalty in Iran is related to drug and murder cases, and
more rarely to high-profile political cases.
63
A Western embassy (1) noted that there has not been issued a
death sentence for conversion the last 10 years.
64
The authorities are not filing cases against converts, and no one in Iran has been arrested solely because of
a conversion, a Western embassy (4) stated.
65
Middle East Consultancy Service added that there is no
legislation on apostasy in the Penal Code, however, many converts are prosecuted.
66
Organisers of house churches might risk accusations of “Crimes against God” which would carry the death
penalty, a source stated. However, the source did not know of any cases where this accusation has resulted
in actual execution of the accused.
67
As regards prosecution of house church members, one source stated that it would probably only be the
leader of the House Church,
68
while another source said that this goes both for low profile cases and for
house church leader.
69
55
56
An anonymous source: 70; Amnesty International: 52
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 9
57
Middle East Concern: 123
58
Middle East Concern: 113; Middle East Consultancy Services: 135
59
Amnesty International: 53; Middle East Concern: 113; a Western Embassy (3): 37, 40
60
Amnesty International: 58
61
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran: 2
62
A Western embassy (1): 29; a Western embassy (4): 47, 48; Deputy Director General of the High Council for Human
Rights and Judicial Cooperation: 88
63
A Western embassy (4): 48
64
A Western embassy (1): 29
65
A Western embassy (4): 47
66
Middle East Consultancy Service: 135
67
A Western embassy (4): 48
68
A Western embassy (3): 40
69
Middle East Concern: 113
9
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Group formation in Iran is punishable, a source noted. According to Article 498 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code,
“forming a group composed of more than two people with the purpose of disrupting national security” can
carry a 10-year prison sentence.
70
As an example where this accusation has been made, two sources
highlighted a case from March 2017 where a Christian convert named Ebrahim Firouzi was issued a five
years sentence for “forming a group for disrupting national security”.
71, 72
When highlighting recent trial cases, several sources mentioned the Naderkhani case.
73
Naderkhani was
sentenced to death in 2012, but was later released. He has been rearrested in May 2017 and sentenced to
ten years in prison for propagating house churches and “Zionist Christianity”. His case has been appealed
by his lawyer.
74
The Maryam Naghash Zargaran case was also mentioned.
75
Zargaran was released from Evin Prison on 1
August 2017, after serving more than four years in jail. She was sentenced by Branch 28 of the
Revolutionary Court for “assembly and collusion against national security” in 2013. In connection with her
release, she has been banned from leaving Iran for six month.
76, 77
Another case pointed out for the delegation was the case concerning Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz.
78
In July
2017, Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment because he was accused that on
26 December 2014, at a Christmas celebration at his house in Tehran, he conducted ‘’evangelism’’, illegal
house church activity and other acts ‘’against national security’’ and ‘’insulting the sacred’’.
79
Middle East Concern informed the delegation about a case from 2016. On 26 August 2016, security officials
from the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) raided a picnic in Firuzkuh in the Alborz Mountains,
north-east of Tehran. The MOIS officials took five men away; the men included Mohammad Dehnavi, Hadi
Asgari, Amin Afshar Naderi and Ramiel Bet Tamraz, who were members of Tehran Pentecostal Assyrian
Church before it was shut down by Iran's Ministry of Interior in March 2009. Dehnavi, Asgari and Naderi are
converts to Christianity. Bet Tamraz is ethnic Assyrian. On 10 October 2016, Ramiel Bet Tamraz and
Mohammad Dehnavi were released after submitting bail equivalent to $33,000 each. At that time, they had
not been informed of any charges against them. Mohammad Dehnavi was released after signing an
70
71
Amnesty International: 55
Middle East Consultancy Services: 132; Middle East Concern: 119
72
Farsi Christian News Network, ‘Iran Court Confirms Five Years Prison Sentence for Christian Convert’, 31 March
2017,
https://fcnn.com/en/?p=931
73
Amnesty International: 59; Middle East Concern: 121; an anonymous source: 79
74
Amnesty International: 59; Middle East Concern: 121
75
Middle East Consultancy Services: 137; a Western embassy (3): 42
76
Center for Human Rights in Iran, ‘Christian Convert Released From Prison in Iran Slapped With Travel Ban’, 22
August 2017,
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2017/08/christian-convert-released-from-prison-in-iran-slapped-
with-travel-ban/
77
Center for Human Rights in Iran, ‘Hospitalized Christian Convert Returned to Prison Without Treatment’, 31 May
2016,
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2016/05/maryam-naghash-zargaran/
78
A source who is well-informed about Christians: 23; Middle East Concern: 115
79
Farsi Christian News Network, ‘Iran: Christians face long prison sentences’, 10 July 2017,
https://fcnn.com/en/?p=1370
10
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agreement that he would not attend a house church. The men have since been charged with ‘acting against
national security’ and ‘organizing and creating house churches’.
80
In May 2017 Naderi was sentenced to 15 years and Asgari to 10 years. The legal representative of these
men has filed an appeal to overturn the sentences. Naderi was finally released on bail on 25 July 2017.
Asgari remains in detention and unable to raise the bail demanded for his conditional release. He has faced
intense pressure during interrogation.
81
House church members or leaders who are out on bail, are sometimes encouraged by the authorities to
leave the country if they have a prominent profile.
82
Another Revolutionary Court case mentioned by the sources includes the Sina Dehghan case from May
2016. Dehghan was charged of conducting teachers protest campaign and blasphemy through writings
online and sentenced to death by execution. He was arrested in October 2015 and the court decision was
declared by the Revolutionary Court of Arak in May 2016.
83
The sentence has been upheld by the country’s
Supreme Court.
84, 85
Further it was highlighted for the delegation that since June 2017, Judge Mashallah
Ahmadzadeh of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran has issued long prison sentences to at least
11 Christian converts and the former leader of the Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Iran.
86, 87
80
81
Middle East Concern: 116
Middle East Concern: 117
82
An anonymous source: 72; Middle East Concern: 107
83
Farsi Christian News Network, ‘Iran: Death Sentence for a Christian Convert’, 02 September 2016,
https://fcnn.com/en/?p=392
84
Middle East Consultancy Services: 136
85
Independent, ‘Iranian man sentenced to death for 'insulting Islam' through messaging app’, 30 March 2017
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/iranian-man-sina-dehgham-death-sentence-insult-islam-muslim-line-
messaging-app-arak-prison-amnesty-a7658466.html
86
Center for Human Rights in Iran, ’11 Christian Converts Issued Long Prison Sentences in Iran in Less Than Two
Months in Sham Trials’, 20 July 2017,
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2017/07/11-christian-converts-issued-long-
prison-sentences-in-iran-in-less-than-two-months/
87
A Western Embassy (3): 43
11
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Annex A: Consulted sources
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
A foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran
A source in Iran who is well-informed about Christians
A Western embassy (1)
A Western embassy (2)
A Western embassy (3)
A Western embassy (4)
Amnesty International
An anonymous legal source
An anonymous source
Deputy Director General of the High Council for Human Rights and Judicial Cooperation, Iran
Deputy Director General, General Directorate of Human Rights and Women, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Iran
12. International Organization for Migration
13. Middle East Consultancy Services
14. Middle East Concern
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Annex B: Meeting notes
Meeting with a foreigner interacting with Christians in Iran
Tehran, 11 September 2017
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
1. Regarding the authorities control, with house churches, the source assumed that they were under
surveillance but did not have any specific information on this subject, as the source did not have any
contact with house churches. The source stated that house church leaders will not use ordinary
communication channels that can lead the authorities to track them.
2. There has been a change in the way the Iranian authorities look at Christians in general. The paranoia
started after the green revolution in 2009, as the Christians are perceived to bring ideas of freedom.
Since the country has opened more up, the authorities have cracked more down on thoughts of
freedom. Most Iranians are not very religious, but they might see conversion as a way to come closer to
Western values, and as a protest against the system. Activities related to conversion are cracked down
by the authorities as the authorities see it as a political activity.
3. The congregations in Iran are much separated. They used to have common services but the authorities
would not allow it, so now they do not do it anymore. It has been decided from authorities that mass
cannot be held in Farsi. Armenian churches hold services in Armenian and Protestants in English.
4. Second generation children from e.g. Iranian father and European mother are not allowed to be
Christians and cannot come to services.
5. If there is a big service in one of the recognized churches, the authorities will check the people
attending. Sometimes the authorities send people to the recognized churches to ask to be baptized so
they can check out if the church proselytizes by offering baptism. There is a general paranoia within
recognized congregations towards newcomers. It would be too dangerous for the established churches
to allow him/her in. Converts who have returned from abroad would therefore only have the house
churches to turn to.
6. Converts who return from Europe after a rejected asylum claim, and tell their families that their asylum
claim was conversion, will probably get in trouble. Even if you keep a low profile upon return, you
might have a problem with your family who might think you will create trouble for the family. They
would probably not report it to the authorities. The source did not have any specific information on
families in Iran who got into troubles, because of a family member being openly converted in Europe.
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Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
7. As regards who will report a house church, the source informed the delegation that a neighbour might
do it; otherwise, the authorities do not have a possibility to know about the house churches. It is the
only way the authorities will know of it, because people are very discrete. The source had heard that
the authorities would try to target the leaders and give them hard sentences, but the ordinary
members could also risk imprisonment.
8. If you are doing missionary work in Iran, you risk getting into trouble.
9. The source has information on three people from the Catholic congregation who got arrested. They
were children of Catholics but were born in Iran and were therefore officially Muslim. The source does
not know whether it makes a difference to the authorities, if you are baptized in Iran or not. If you
return to Iran as a baptized, you can have a problem, if you announce it in public.
10. This year (2017), some nuns from The Catholic Church were ransacked and their laptops were taken.
The official reason was the missionary work. Now the nuns are scared and do not dare to perform
mass.
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
11. The source was not aware of any court cases or formal charges against Christians.
Meeting with a source in Iran who is well-informed about Christians
Tehran, 13 September 2017
Situation for Christians in general
12. According to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, ‘’the official religion of Iran is the Twelver Ja’fari
school of [shi´ī] religion’’ (Art. 12). The following Article, Art. 13, states that: ‘’Zoroastrian, Jewish and
Christians Iranians are considered the only recognized religious minorities. They may exercise their
religious ceremonies within the limits of the law. They are free to exercise matters of personal status
and religious education and they follow their own rituals’’. It is true that ‘’on paper’’ there is a certain
degree of ‘’freedom of worship’’ since those forming part of the minorities can participate freely to the
services held in authorized places of cult, but there is absolutely no ‘’freedom of religion’’ since Iranians
are all considered as Muslims and they cannot opt to change religion or not to have a religion.
Conversion is considered as a very serious crime. Therefore, the activity of Christian minorities has to
be addressed and focused exclusively to their fellow Christians, both in regards to cult and religious
services and also the social/philanthropic activity.
13. It is not allowed to have Christian services in Farsi, since Farsi is the mother language of Iranians, and
Iranians are Muslims. Using Farsi would be regarded as a proselytism activity. However, as from 2012,
there is an on-going project of an official translation – authorised by The Ministry of Islamic Guidance
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and Culture, Ershad – of the ‘’Catholic Jerusalem Bible’’ into Farsi. These bibles are easily available in
the bookshops. Also, the ‘’University of Religion and Denominations’’ in Qum, which offers studies on
all religion, in 2015 translated the ‘’Catechism of the Catholic Church’’ into Farsi. Only these official
translations are allowed and tolerated in circulation and in places of worship.
14. Iran – like all Middle East countries – is experiencing a Christian exodus. People opt to leave the country
not because they being ‘’persecuted’’ in the very strict meaning of the word, but because perhaps they
want to find better jobs, enjoy a better standard of living and want more civil rights. Sometimes they
‘’camouflage’’ these personal desires and aspirations behind the fact that Christians are being
mistreated in Iran. It is also true though, that converted Iranians risk being sent away from their
families, leaving them homeless. Sometimes then they opt to leave the country and claim political
asylum in Europe or elsewhere.
15. On 25 February 2017 the Lazarists’ property in Isfahan was totally confiscated and occupied by Secret
Service agents.
16. In September a thorough police search was conducted in property of the Filles de la Charité sisters in
Isfahan. The authorities confiscated all the Bibles in Farsi, their computers and telephones, and they
interrogated the sisters about receiving Iranian citizens in their compound.
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
17. ‘’House Churches’’ in Iran, belonging especially to Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Assembly of the Lord and
other Christian denominations, are continuously under the spotlight of the Iranian authorities. They are
systematically put under surveillance and also systematically raided. Unfortunately, this phenomenon
has expanded also to registered and authorised churches. In the last four years there has been a tighter
grip on traditional churches.
18. The authorities are mainly after the leaders of these house churches and then after the members and
converted Iranians of the community. It is difficult for the authorities to crack down on house churches,
as they are not structured and keep on moving from place to place. Sometimes they meet in parks and
gardens around Tehran. The authorities fear the expansion of the ‘’house churches’’ phenomenon in
Iran.
19. Usually, converts present a baptism certificate both to try to form a part of a Christian community in
Iran or to claim political asylum abroad, based on persecution for your religion. Lately, a recognized
Church has questioned the process and the quality of preparation Muslim Iranians undergo, before
receiving baptism in Europe or elsewhere.
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Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
20. On 20 February 2017 the two Christian converts Anusheh Rezabakhsh (Veronica) and Soyeyl
Zargarzadeh Sani (Agostino) were arrested in Urmia.
88
On 23 July 2017, 9 Iranian converts belonging to
the Latin Catholic Church, were arrested by the Secret Service/Police in a park in Tehran. Three of them
– Mehdi Amini, Saeid Saberi and Milad Poshtivan – remain in prison. At the moment it is unknown
where they are kept, what accusation are being brought against them and if they are in need of any
legal assistance. Two of those interrogated and released managed to flee out of the country.
21. These converts did not get baptised in Iran. They received baptism when they travelled to other
countries, where changing religion is not a crime. When these converts return to Iran, they are not
welcomed in the recognized congregation in Iran since this will provoke severe problems not only for
the Congregation but especially to the priest responsible of the Church. It is not the first time that
priests are thoroughly scrutinised and threatened because of suspicion that they are welcoming Iranian
Muslims or Iranian converts to their community.
22. It is mainly evangelic Christianity that people convert to. The Iranian authorities wonder who is
supporting the evangelic groups and suspect it to be USA. There are no precise figures on the Christian
converts – some estimate 100.000 while others estimate around 300.000.
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
23. In July a Pentecostal pastor, Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
because he was accused that on 26 December 2014, at a Christmas celebration at his house in Tehran,
he conducted ‘’evangelism’’, illegal house church activity and other acts ‘’against national security’’ and
‘’insulting the sacred’’.
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Meeting with a Western Embassy (1)
Tehran, 11 September 2017
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
24. Regarding the Iranian authorities’ control with the house churches, the Western Embassy (1) assumed
that the authorities did not have control with the house churches. Most of the house churches in Iran
are unknown to the public. According to the Western Embassy’s (1) knowledge, there are
88
Citizen Go, ‘Iran: Release the Christian converts Anoushe Reza-Bakhsh and Sohail Zagarzade-sani!’, 04 April 2017,
http://citizengo.org/en/pr/47043-iran-release-christian-converts-anoushe-reza-bakhsh-and-sohail-zagarzade-sani
89
Farsi Christian News Network, ‘Iran: Christians face long prison sentences’, 10 July 2017,
https://fcnn.com/en/?p=1370
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approximately 30.000 house churches in the country. Most of them (approx. 80%) are affiliated with
the Pentecostal church.
25. The Christian community in Iran is one of the smallest and least active among the non-Muslim
communities in the country.
Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
26. Typically, the Iranian authorities become aware of the specific house church when they receive a hint
by for instance angry neighbours. It is rather unlikely that family members, close relatives or someone
you know will report your participation in a house church to the police. The source added it can happen
that the police show up at a house church without making a case out of it. If the authorities intervene,
the owner of the apartment will be warned. If the police find a person in a house church who is already
known by the authorities, he or she can risk being arrested. However, paying you out of an arrest would
be possible if you are only participating in a house church and are not proselytizing. It was added that
even if it is known that the person is a converted Muslim, it would be a question of the amount of
money paid to be released.
27. Asked if there have been changes in the authorities control with house churches and converts recently,
the source replied that it has been at the same level for the last couple of years.
28. Besides house churches, there are the sects and religious communities; most of them have religious
gatherings. According to the source’s opinion, these sects and religious communities do meet more
often and more openly than the Christian converts. There is not necessarily a threat against religious
minorities as long as nobody reports them to the Iranian authorities. The overall rule is keeping away
from proselytizing. Not even Jehovah’s Witnesses proselytize in Iran.
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
29. The source informed it is very common that former Muslims and now Christian converts will claim they
are Muslims to avoid problems with the authorities. Formally, saying the Islamic creed means a person
will be considered as a Muslim. If you refuse to do so, you can risk death sentence; but there has not
been issued a death sentence due to conversion the last 10 years.
30. If you are actively withstanding your religion, you will face problems, but if you are practicing your
religion in private, you will not have problems with the authorities.
31. According to the source’s knowledge, the last trial case involving a Christian convert was the Ibrahim
Firouzi case. Firouzi was sentenced to 5 years in prison in 2015 due to accusation of distribution of
12.000 Bibles.
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Meeting with a Western Embassy (2)
Tehran, 10 September 2017
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
32. The Embassy did not have knowledge about the control with the house churches and converts.
Additionally, the source stated that Islam is a point that Muslims feel strong about. Conversion is a big
issue both formally and emotionally. It would create a big problem with the authorities. The Catholic
churches are not allowed to preach in Farsi anymore so it seems there is a decrease of tolerance from
the authorities.
Meeting with a Western Embassy (3)
Tehran, 12 September 2017
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
33. In Iran, converting from Islam to another religion is forbidden by law.
34. If you are not proselytizing or promoting the house church, the authorities will not know about you.
35. The source did not consider that the Iranian authorities are monitoring the house churches more today
than earlier. The authorities are more monitoring social media and online activities. Furthermore, the
authorities are more alerted to activities threatening the established system.
36. As regards Iranian asylum seekers in Europe, who have converted to Christianity and have announced it
on social media (their Facebook pages), the source said it is difficult to say whether the authorities will
become aware of it. If the converted persons have made a lot of noise about it, they might be arrested
and interrogated upon return to Iran. The subsequent process depends on what the returned persons
tell the authorities.
37. The source informed there is an understanding of claiming conversion to Christianity in asylum cases.
With regard to the question if the conversion is real, the Western Embassy (3) stated, the converted
persons can easily deny it. If they are not high profiled and are not involved in propagating Christianity
or activities perceived as a threat to national security, the source did not consider that the converted
persons will receive harsh punishment.
38. The Western Embassy (3) did not have any specific information about cases involving Christian converts
returning to Iran.
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Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
39. House churches are under surveillance, but not all house churches are known. If neighbours to a
specific house church notice activities around the house church, there might be a risk that the
neighbours will report it to the authorities.
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
40. Some Christian converts have been sentenced to prison, but the accusation from the authorities’ side is
that they were acting against national security. It would, probably, only be the leader of the House
Church who would be prosecuted.
41. The Western Embassy (3) stated it rarely hears about Christian converts being arrested, persecuted and
sentenced.
42. As regard recent trial cases, the source mentioned the Maryam Naghash Zargaran case. Zargaran was
released from Evin Prison on August 1, 2017, after serving more than four years for accusation of
engaging in Christian missionary activities. In connection with her release, she has been banned from
leaving Iran for six month. Zargaran was arrested in November 2012 and accused of seeking to buy
property in northern Iran for a Christian orphanage.
90
43. The source added that in less than two months, since June 2017, Judge Mashallah Ahmadzadeh of
Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran has issued long prison sentences to at least 11 Christian
converts and the former leader of the Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Iran.
91
44. For information about cases related to Christian converts, the source referred to the news agencies,
Mohabat News and Human Rights Activists’ News Agency.
90
Center for Human Rights in Iran, ‘Christian Convert Released From Prison in Iran Slapped With Travel Ban’, 22
August 2017,
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2017/08/christian-convert-released-from-prison-in-iran-slapped-
with-travel-ban/
91
Center for Human Rights in Iran, ’11 Christian Converts Issued Long Prison Sentences in Iran in Less Than Two
Months in Sham Trials’, 20 July 2017,
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2017/07/11-christian-converts-issued-long-
prison-sentences-in-iran-in-less-than-two-months/
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Meeting with a Western Embassy (4)
Tehran, 12 September 2017
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
45. Most house churches are evangelist and they are very active in searching for members. The organisers
of the house churches are monitored by the authorities. But house churches are quite common in Iran
and their numbers are growing. The fact that house churches exist, means they have space to operate.
It is however very important to keep these activities under the radar as house churches are illegal in
Iran.
46. The source added that formally, there is no problem with the Catholic Church in Iran, as it is one of the
recognized churches. However, recently it has been reported that the church has been subject to more
pressure, raids and control, and that some of its members have been arrested for taking part in trying
to spread Christianity. There has also been a worrying increase in the confiscation of Church properties.
47. The authorities are not filing cases against converts, and no one in Iran has been arrested just because
of a conversion, if the change has not led to other activities like for instance proselytizing. For the
convert, it is the relation to his family and community which might be problematic.
48. The implementation of the death penalty in Iran is related to drug and murder cases, and more rarely
high profile political cases. Most of the implemented cases are related to drug cases. The source stated
that organisers of house churches might risk accusations of “Crimes against God” which would carry the
death penalty but the source did not know of any cases where this accusation has resulted in actual
execution of the accused.
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
49. As an example of a case of conversion from Islam, in which the death penalty has been sought, the
embassy referred to the Taheri case.
92
92
Mr. Taheri (founder of the
Erfan e-Halgheh )
was initially sentenced a five-year prison sentence for blasphemy in
2011, while further investigations against him were going on. He was ultimately convicted of “spreading corruption on
earth” in 2015 and sentenced to death, but acquitted on appeal in 2016. He was not released, and in late 2016, was
charged with “spreading corruption on earth” for the same activities that formed the basis of his 2011 conviction. On
27 August 2017, a Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced Ali Taheri to death for “spreading corruption on earth” for
establishing the spiritual group Erfan-e Halgheh. (Amnesty International, ‘Urgent Action, PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE
SENTENCED TO DEATH’ 31 August 2017,
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/7024/2017/en/)
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Meeting with Amnesty International
London, 3 October 2017
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
50. The authorities will monitor house churches. Whether the authorities will intervene depends on the
activities of the house church group, and the size of the group.
51. According to Amnesty International the authorities both target house church leaders and the members.
52. Whether it makes a difference for the authorities if a convert is baptized or not, the source did not
assume that baptism was the key issue; it is rather the convert’s connections, including those abroad.
The source did not have a specific example in this regard.
53. On the question about returned converted Iranian asylum seekers, the source stated they might be
interrogated and added that Iran for the last two years, has been sensitive about Iranian nationals with
ties abroad. The source assumed it would be an issue if Iranian nationals have claimed that they have
converted abroad. Generally, many of this type of cases tend to be related to national security
offenses, meaning people face prosecution for conversion to Christianity under national security and
other criminal offenses when, in fact, the issue is the denial of freedom of religion.
54. The source assumed the Iranian authorities are very active in monitoring Iranians, also those abroad.
Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
55. According to Amnesty International the authorities will react if someone reports a house church
member and convert. There are certain sentences related to group formation in Iran. In the Islamic
Penal Code, “forming a group composed of more than two people with the purpose of disrupting
national security” (Article 498) can carry a 10 year prison sentence.
56. It is difficult to say how the authorities discover that a person has converted; many converts do not
even tell their families about it.
57. As regards situations that might attract attention and reveal the conversion, the source mentioned if
the parents are converted and for instance ask the teachers in their children’s school not to teach their
children about Islam, they would be revealed. Another example was converts traveling from Iran to
Turkey to participate in Christianity related workshops. Frequent travel activity to Turkey might also
attract the authorities’ attention, particularly when combined with other activities such as attending
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house churches. A third situation that might be looked upon with suspicion by the surrounding
community as for instance the workplace, is when a convert does not participate in Islamic events.
Islam permeates the Iranian society, and many social norms and cultural activities are connected to
Islam. Not participating in these events would also raise a question mark towards your religion.
58. Regarding converts prosecuted by the authorities, the source mentioned that the person concerned is
not always informed about the charges until after interrogations are completed, which can take
months; usually, Christian converts cases are handled by the Revolutionary Court as these cases are
considered national security matters. It is not only related to converts but in general for people
prosecuted for security offences that the offences are not specified until they are formally charged. It is
not uncommon that people do not know exactly what they are charged of, and in cases where the
court does not issue a written verdict, they may not know the content of the verdict. In this regard, the
source added that a lawyer has to be appointed and recognized by the court; if the lawyer is not
recognized, he/she will not have access to the electronic database where the client’s files are. Some
lawyers are blacklisted by the authorities from taking on specific cases, e.g. lawyers who have
advocated for international human rights standards. Furthermore, the lawyer has to be settled in Iran.
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
59. As regards Christian converts the source mentioned the Nadarkhani case. Naderkhani was sentenced to
death in 2012, but was later released. He has been rearrested in May 2017 and sentenced to ten years
in prison for propagating house churches and “Zionist Christianity”. His case has been appealed by his
lawyer.
60. When asked about recent death sentences issued in other conversion cases, Amnesty International
mentioned the Mohammad Ali Taheri case. Taheri, who is founder of the spiritual group, Erfan-e
Halgheh, was arrested in 2011 and sentenced to death for “spreading corruption on earth” in August
2017 on charges of founding a spiritual group.
93
In October 2017, the Supreme Court of Iran overturned
the death sentence and sent the case back to the lower court for further investigations (on the charge
of “spreading corruption on earth”).
93
Amnesty International, ‘Urgent Action, PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE SENTENCED TO DEATH’ 31 August 2017,
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/7024/2017/en/
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Meeting with an anonymous legal source
Tehran, 13 September 2017
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
61. In general, converts – conversion being illegal and punishable according to Iranian law and punishments
ranging from death penalty to imprisonment – have been persecuted and punished in Iran from the
beginning of the Iranian revolution in 1979. Such persecutions have forced some Christians to go
underground and create house churches where they can safely practice Christianity.
62. The source stated that to the best of his knowledge, there have been acts of violence, persecution,
imprisonment to prevent conversion of Muslims to other religions as well as to threaten the house
churches to stop converting Muslims. The source was not aware of any specific cases.
Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
63. To the sources understanding, some previously prosecuted house church members have, after being
released from prison, found refuge outside Iranian borders due to constant fear for themselves and
their families.
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
64. The source stated that such issues being sensitive matters are not openly discussed in the Iranian
official news media.
Meeting with an anonymous source
Ankara, 15 September 2017
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
65. After 2013 when all the churches under the ‘Assembly of God’ closed down in Iran, the house churches
started spreading, and they are difficult for the government to control. House churches are mostly
established in cities like Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan. The monitoring authorities include the Ministry of
Intelligence, the intelligence unit of Sepah as well as the intelligence unit of the Ministry of Interior. The
agencies all have their own monitoring teams in neighbourhoods, and these units will share
information on religious minorities. There is no coordinated monitoring of the house churches between
the different intelligence agencies in Iran.
66. The authorities monitor neighbourhoods and identify informants who can enter the churches. Later
they may raid the house and arrest the members. For this reason, the house churches organize
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themselves with a small number of people, who change places and meet in the houses of different
members. The churches are organized in a pyramid model where regular members will not know the
leader of the house church. The ordinary members meet with proselytizers. As it is well known that the
authorities are tapping phones, the house church members are cautious and turn off their phones long
before they reach their meeting place; the source added that these are the general security rules for
which the members are expected to follow; however, for sure there might be members who do not
follow these rules.
67. Church pastors are more targeted than ordinary members of house churches. The authorities are
concerned that pastors will expand the movement, and that is why they are more interesting. The
typical pattern of targeting is by continuously arresting and releasing the pastors. The authorities want
to send the message that they are monitored, and that the authorities have the power to arrest them.
68. Regarding ordinary members of house churches, and newly converted Christians, they could be
arrested in a raid on a house church. However, they would be released again on the condition that they
will not proselytize. If they stop proselytizing, the authorities will stop gathering information about
them. If the person is an influential person in the community, the authorities could arrest him to warn
him and letting him know that he is monitored.
69. Whether some house churches are more targeted than others, the source mentioned that the
considered strength and impact the church may have on a community is important, and not so much
who is funding the church or other factors. The authorities monitor the house church until they know
who is doing what in the community. Whether a member is being targeted depends on what he has
been doing and if this specific person is known abroad. Newly converted are not targeted however they
could risk arrest with the purpose of getting information on the house church and to demoralize the
rest of the group.
70. Whether it would make a difference if the convert is baptized or not, the anonymous source mentioned
that for the last 10 years, it has not been possible to be baptized in Iran. However, the source added,
baptism might have occurred, as there might be some exceptional cases. If the convert has been
baptized abroad and is returning to Iran, the baptism in itself would not have any significance. If the
convert leads a silent life, it would not be a problem to be a convert. However, if the convert starts
training others, it would become a problem.
71. If a house church member is arrested, and it is the first time, he would normally be released within 24
hours. If he has been detained in prison, he will receive his accusations within 24 hours and come to
court within ten days. In that case, he will normally be released on bail. Bail involves family members.
The amount of bail is set by judge who takes advice from an expert to evaluate the amount of for
instance a title deed. The process might take some time and could take up to one month. This one
month period is for someone who is convicted and imprisoned to serve his/her sentence. In that case
the period is longer as it is harder for the families to access the prison judge who should refer the case
for the bail process. For arrests and releases before trial and conviction the time would be less.
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72.
When a house church member or leader is out on bail, it would be possible for him to leave the
country. It was emphasized that the authorities in most cases would want them to leave, if they are
well known people. Another option for a house church leader would be to stop the activities and
announce in public that it has stopped. However, if the person is a government employee, the
authorities would not like the person to leave the country.
Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
73. The authorities do not act immediately if neighbors or others have reported on a house church. The
authorities will monitor the church and collect information on its members. This information will focus
on possible weak points of a person, for instance if the person is a gay, has a weakness, or has been
involved in political activities in the past. It would be a strategy from the authorities to arrest and
release someone to make an informant out of them. A profile for the informer could be information on
the person’s background which can be used to put pressure on them; a divorced woman, weak ties
with the person’s own community, threats against the persons children etc.
74. If neighbours are reporting on a house church, the process of monitoring would be initiated. The
authorities have specialized agents who will find their ways into the churches.
75. Converts who do not proselytize, and who are not members of a house church, are not targeted by the
authorities but could be in a vulnerable situation if they are reported to the authorities by a family
member, if for instance they are seen reading the Bible. It was mentioned that many families are loyal
to the regime and have a Basij member within the family. If there are children in the family, they could
also inform about activities in their homes, at school.
76. If a convert is proselytizing in his work place, he could be reported to the security police at the work
place (Hirasat).
77. If the authorities detect a convert who has activities outside his house, i.e. if he/she starts proselytizing
or otherwise try to disseminate Christianity, they will start monitoring the person. However, the
authorities will not take any action, if the convert is just reading the Bible in his home. The authorities
would not target a Christian believer if he/she is not active in proselytizing.
78. As regards possible changes in the authorities’ control with house churches and converts recently, it
was mentioned that there have been no significant changes since 2013. The situation for a convert
becomes serious, if he is disseminating information about Christianity in the Iranian society. The
security apparatus limits its power to randomly checks in order to scare people and sending a message
that they are surveilled.
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
79. Leaders of house churches are known to the authorities and kept under surveillance. The example of
Naderkhani from ‘Church of Iran’ was mentioned. He has been under surveillance, and has also been
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arrested several times. He has only been released again because of pressure from the international
community.
80. The Iranian authorities are aware of different connotations related to conversion, and that some
Iranians converted to obtain asylum. It is said that Iran has agents abroad to monitor on Iranian
citizens. However, it is unknown to what extent the Iranian authorities have the capacity to monitor all.
The authorities do not monitor everyone and all the time; what the authorities want is to create a fear
among people that they are being monitored all the time.
81. If a convert has been baptized in Turkey and return to Iran, and he/she does not undertake any
Christian activities, it is less probable that he/she might face any problems. Only if the person would
use the religion politically to for instance compare disadvantages of Islam with advantages of
Christianity or another religion on social media, it could be a problem for him. However, it was
underlined that it would require the person to make a personal analysis of the two religions and not
just someone who used “copy paste” phrases.
82. The authorities could interrogate a convert on return, if it has come to the authorities’ attention that
he converted. It was underlined that this would require some additional information related to that
person as for instance if he was a previous member of a house church in Iran. The authorities would
consider his case in a holistic way. It was mentioned that a photo indicating his conversion posted on
the internet would be evaluated along with his profile and activities. It was further underlined that if
the person did not have any previous affiliation with Christianity before leaving his/her country of
origin; for instance his/her Facebook is closed for the public and photos on Facebook was sometimes
posted in short while and later taken off and the person does not carry out any further activities
relating to Christianity upon return to Iran; the person would not be of interest to the authorities.
83. The convert could face problems with his own family and be excluded from his family and threatened
by them. If the person’s family is working for the authorities – Basij or others – it could also become a
problem. According to the anonymous source, this is based on mere speculation and not any cases
known to the source.
Meeting with Dep. Director General of the High Council for Human Rights and
Judicial Cooperation, Iran
Tehran, 12 September 2017
84. Initially the Dep. Director General explained that the Council for Human Rights deals with all issues
related to Human Rights in Iran and outside Iran. It is a government institution and comprises
representatives and members from all branches in Iran, i.e. the legislative bodies, the executive bodies
and the judiciary. The Council is the focal body for all matters relating to human rights issues, including
policy making and policy implementation, as well as international policy, including the Universal
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Periodic Review (UPR). The Council holds dialogues with a number of countries and exchanges best
practices on human rights through these bilateral dialogues.
85. The Dep. Director General underlined that Iran is an Islamic country which does not expel refugees. He
referred to the situation for one million Afghans who are registered with UNHCR in Iran. In addition to
this number, another two million live as illegal foreign nationals in Iran, as they are not registered.
However, Iran provides the necessary facilities to this group, including education. The Deputy Director
General compared the situation with European countries which have closed their borders, whereas
Iran’s borders are open.
Freedom of religion
86. According to the Iranian Constitution, there are three recognized religions in Iran (in
addition to Islam).
These are Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Jewism. All together these groups comprise less than
150,000 people out of 80 million. There are 3-500 places of worship for these religious groups. For
Christians who comprise around 100,000 people, there are registered 400 churches in Iran, some of
which are recognized as UNESCO monuments. The government is providing subsidy to renew and
construct churches. In comparison, the Dep. Director General mentioned that in the Netherlands there
are more than one million Muslims, but only one mosque, constructed in the right way with minarets
etc.
87. As regards conversion to Christianity, the Dep. Director General was of the opinion that Iranians
convert for asylum. After they have obtained a status, they will still participate in Muslim ceremonies.
According to the Dep. Director General European asylum systems push people to convert in order to be
accepted.
88. If Iranians are returning to Iran after having used conversion as a motive to obtain asylum in Europe or
another country, they will not be faced with laws and regulations for conversion. As regards public
conversion the system will react, but the numbers are limited, and the Iranian system tries to be
flexible in such cases. It was emphasized that nobody has been executed in Iran due to conversion.
89. House churches are illegal if not registered. The representative of religious minorities in the Parliament
has expressed that he is not interested in house churches. The Dep. Director General similarly found
that house churches are unnecessary as Christians can just go to the registered churches. It is not a big
issue in Iran according to the Dep. Director General. House churches should register and obtain a
license, which according to the Dep. Director General, is a normal requirement also in other countries.
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Meeting with the Deputy Director General, General Directorate of Human Rights
and Women, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iran
Tehran, 13 September 2017
Human rights in general
The Dep. Director General emphasized that Iran has a dialogue with EU countries and other countries on
human rights. However, human rights are exploited for political reasons, according to the Dep. Director
General. There are double standards for human rights in the region. In some regional countries which are
considered allies of United States and European countries, even some basic rights are not observed, while
they are not under human rights monitoring system. These double standards cause confusion about the
real intention behind stances of western countries on human rights. It has to be accepted that no county is
perfect with regard to promotion and protection of human rights, thus no country is immune to critics.
House Churches and Converts
90. The Dep. Director General emphasized that according to the Iranian Civil Code, there are no restrictions
on a person’s choice of religion – an Iranian is free to opt for any religion. The Dep. Director General
pointed at the adoption of restrictive rules against migrants in Europe, and the consequences of such
rules, which according to him lead to migrants trying to justify their claims of asylum in such a way that
they can obtain asylum. In this process, they feel obliged to resort to claims based on conversion to
Christianity to justify their case. These claims are baseless, according to the Dep. Director General.
Conversion has its laws and regulations in the Islamic jurisprudence and sharia, but there are no cases
of apostasy and conversion in the judicial system of Iran. According to him, the monitoring of Iran by
the UN creates an ill-informed view that the Iranian asylum seekers are telling the truth about the
country.
91. There are many Iranians who after long time did not find what they wanted in Europe, and who return
to Iran. These Iranians are welcomed back. The Iranian administration is not curious and would not
enquire about their backgrounds.
92. According to the Dep. Director General some Iranians who seek asylum in Europe pretend to be
converted to justify their request, but they are really Muslims and do still observe their Muslim
practices. Asked about the consequences if someone genuinely converted, the Dep. Director General
found that it would not make a problem to him. The authorities are not scrutinizing people and do not
make any investigations into people’s belief. The Dep. Director General further referred to the fact that
there has been no specific procedure for investigating returnees.
93. Some Muslim countries follow the juris prudence of Sharia with regard to apostasy. The Iranian society
is tolerant, and it is not a priority to implement strict measures. It is hard to say though how the family
of a converted would react – it is a personal question. Some families would not accept it.
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Meeting with International Organization for Migration
Tehran, 11 September 2017
94. International Organization for Migration in Iran (IOM) informed that the organization has a huge case
load from Europe. European countries receive many cases from Iran, including Iranian nationals and
Afghans.
95. Today Iranian asylum seekers are less qualified, skilled, educated and experienced, compared to former
asylum seekers from Iran.
96. It is hard to motivate the Iranian asylum seekers in Europe to return on a voluntary basis. The source
explained that it only engages in voluntary repatriations; voluntary return of Iranian nationals is a must
for the Iranian government.
97. From January 2017 until May 2017 IOM has assisted 40 Iranian asylum seekers with voluntary return
from Denmark to Iran.
98. With regard to the root causes to migration from Iran, IOM informed the delegation that many are
seeking a better life, but there are different “push and pull” factors. Most Iranian asylum seekers in the
Scandinavian countries are well-educated. From 2004 until 2010 the main reason to migration was
economically related. Today, the Iranian migrant is seeking better options abroad. However, IOM
underlined that it is hard to identify the main cause of migration. If they return, the authorities check
them in the systems.
99. With regard to returning, when exiting the country illegally, IOM informed, it is possible to return, but
returnees will be questioned about how they exited the country and through which channels.
Sometimes they will be called in several times.
House Churches and Converts
Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
100.
Regarding the return of Christian converts to Iran, IOM said, as long as the converted
persons keep it private, they do not risk persecution. IOM added that Iranian asylum seekers will claim
anything; they create an alibi for themselves when they claim conversion to Christianity.
101.
The source explained that conversion has to be documented in the form of for instance a
certificate of baptism. There are many Christians in Iran, and as long as they do not announce it in
public, they will not face problems.
102.
Regarding the families to persons claiming conversion to Christianity in their asylum cases,
the source stated that the families know that asylum seekers will do whatever it takes to obtain a legal
status in a European country.
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Meeting with Middle East Concern
London, 2 October 2017
Background
MEC collects data from people inside the country as well as from people who have fled the country. The
organisation has past cases and can identify trends and developments. People who are under surveillance
and have left the country do not return. Sources inside Iran get information out via secure chat-apps and do
not use ordinary e-mail. The source talks to the sources inside Iran once in a while. Sometimes it is family
members to Christians who are both inside and outside of Iran although family members are often
reluctant to talk to MEC after the Christian individual who had fled the country is no longer in Iran and in
immediate danger – this is the case if the family of the Christian is not Christian. Based on the information
that comes out, a lot of cross-checking and verification takes place. The organisation is doing advocacy
work with politicians and need to be sure that the information is correct.
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
103.
According to the source there is a widespread monitoring of telecommunication and
electronic communication if you have caught the interest of the authorities. Certain keywords serve as
base for the electronic surveillance; e.g. if you type “Church”, “Jesus”, “Christian”, ‘’Baptism’’ on the
internet it would be tracked by the authorities. If you for instance text the word “Jesus” to a Christian
TV-show you risk getting a text-message back saying, “You are involved with something you should not
be involved in”. There are also reports on people being followed in the streets.
104.
According to the source, the authorities send people, who are seen as trustworthy, to
infiltrate the house churches. After Churches were closed down in 2013 and Farsi Church services were
banned, Christians (Christian Iranians from Muslim background) who were attending the Church
services began to go to house churches instead. They are easily identifiable as the authorities required
the closed churches to register their members with the authorities, so they must be very careful. It can
be difficult for the house churches to prevent infiltration, as the authorities use infiltrators that pretend
to be converts in order to dismantle the house churches and find information on members and leaders.
The members of a house church can be five or ten but maximum 12 people and the larger it gets; the
more difficult it is for the house church to control it. Introduction to a house church is mainly mouth to
mouth based, so it is very much a trust issue.
Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
105.
There is ongoing surveillance of ordinary house church members, which serves as
intimidation to stop them from going to the house churches. The authorities furthermore tend to arrest
the leaders to dismantle the church and discourage others from attending gatherings and house
churches.
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106.
According to the source, internal relocation would be possible if you caught the attention of
the authorities, though practically difficult because of the family, who would need to move with the
person concerned, etc. However, Iran is a big country with 27 provinces and relocation is a possibility to
remain out of immediate danger or arrest, temporarily but it is not a permanent solution. If you
relocate you would be okay for a while, but if you carry on with your Christian activities and religious
teaching, you are not safe. Leaving the country is the last resort, and most people want to stay in Iran
because of family etc.
107.
If a house church member or leader is arrested, usually the bail set in the case, is very high.
The bail set can range from 20.000 to 200.000 USD. If someone who is out on bail flees, the authorities
can then confiscate their property. According to the source, there are cases of people, who have been
encouraged to leave Iran by the authorities, as a trial case with a death sentence will attract
international attention. In these cases where the converts leave the country, the authorities can collect
the bail; thereby leaving those who choose to flee nothing to come back to. Converts would often lose
their jobs, without a reason given. If you are never formally charged, and the process before the court
is put on hold – you would still have the case over your head.
108.
Hadi Asgari who was an ordinary house church member is an example of a high set bail; he
was ultimately sentenced 10 years imprisonment, but during his trial he was released on a bail amount
of 50.000 USD.
94
109.
As an ordinary member of a house church, you may risk being called in for interrogation on a
regular basis to harass and intimidate you. You risk constant surveillance. The authorities cannot arrest
everybody, but they may target anyone who has a network or lives as a Christian. However, if you are
not in touch with other Christians, or if you are a new believer with no network, you would not be
targeted, unless your family is highly religious.
110.
The arrests of Christians have not decreased in recent years. There is a constant threat. If
you are member of a flourishing house church, you could be more in danger, because the authorities
see the flourishing house churches as a bigger threat.
111.
Ordinary members of a house church may face problems. If you have a house church in a
small town you risk being targeted, because you are more visible. It can also depend on the local
authority though; often, local authorities and judicial clerks and judges perceive themselves as
protecting the Islamic Republic of Iran by punishing and stopping Christians from attending Church.
112.
Persecution initiating from a family member to a house church member, is not usual. If it
occurs, it could be a family member who is employed by the government or whose professional and/or
social status can be adversely affected because of the Christian family member, as a significant
94
Reference to section ‘’Recent
trial cases related to House Churches and Converts’’
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employed/working population of Iran work in industries and/or institutions that are controlled and run
by the Islamic government.
95
Being affiliated with a Christian convert, might for instance cost a job.
Sometimes that person would have to report you for their own protection, as it would put them in
danger to withhold information from authorities about house church members.
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
113.
It is a general trend that the authorities charge people for being a threat to national security,
rather than charge them for apostasy. This goes both for low profile cases, and if you are a house
church leader.
114.
Of recent trials related to converts, the MEC mentioned several cases.
115.
On 26 December 2014, security officers raided Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz's house during a
Christmas celebration and temporarily arrested all in attendance. The pastor was detained. Pastor
Victor was charged verbally with ‘conducting evangelism’, misuse of the title ‘doctor’ (it was used as a
code word when people wanted prayer for healing), illegal house church activities among other charges
that amount to the charge of “acting against national security”. He was released on bail (approx.
$110.000) on 1 March 2015.
116.
On 26 August 2016, security officials from the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS)
raided a picnic in Firuzkuh in the Alborz Mountains, north-east of Tehran. The MOIS officials took five
men away; the men included Mohammad Dehnavi, Hadi Asgari, Amin Afshar Naderi and Ramiel Bet
Tamraz, who were members of Tehran Pentecostal Assyrian Church before it was shut down by Iran's
Ministry of Interior in March 2009. Dehnavi, Asgari and Naderi are converts to Christianity. Bet Tamraz
is ethnic Assyrian. On 10 October 2016, Ramiel Bet Tamraz and Mohammad Dehnavi were released
after submitting bail equivalent to $33,000 each. At that time, they had not been informed of any
charges against them. However, the questioning during interrogation related to the activity of Bet
Tamraz’ father, Pastor Victor, as well as to individual Christian activity. Mohammad Dehnavi was
released after signing an agreement that he would not attend a house church (a private Christian
meeting in a home). The men have since been charged with ‘acting against national security’ and
‘organizing and creating house churches’, and Bet Tamraz faces additional charges related to the
ministry of his father, Pastor Victor. Ramiel Bet Tamraz awaits his hearing.
117.
In May 2017 Naderi was sentenced to 15 years and Asgari to 10 years, both with a 2-year
travel ban. The judge also raised the amount of bail for Naderi and Asgari to 270 million Tomans for
Naderi (approximately US$80,000) and 170 million Tomans for Asgari (approximately US$50,000). The
legal representative of these men has filed an appeal to overturn the sentences. Naderi was finally
95
The Islamic Republic of Iran, through nationalisation of oil and gas industries and other natural resources industries controls the
economy and employment of labour. In early 2000, it was reported that 25% of employed labour was in the industries sector that is
controlled by the government; this excludes military and police force
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released on bail on 25 July 2017. Asgari remains in detention and unable to raise the bail demanded for
his conditional release. He has faced intense pressure during interrogation.
118.
On 24 June 2016, Eldar Gurbanov, Yusif Farhadov, Bahram Nasibov (Azerbaijanian citizens,
members of Baku Word of Life Church) and an Iranian Christian, Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh, were
arrested and detained after attending a private gathering. On 23 August the men from Azerbaijan were
charged with ‘engaging in missionary activity’ and ‘propaganda’ and Gol-Tapeh faced similar charges.
All four were released on 29 October 2016. The three Azerbaijanis had submitted bail equivalent to
$80.000. Gol-Tapeh and legal representatives of the three Azerbaijani nationals attended a
Revolutionary Court in Tehran on 23 May 2017. They were officially sentenced to 10 years in prison on
5 July 2017. They are awaiting an appeal hearing.
119.
Ebrahim Firouzi, a Christian convert from Islam, was first arrested on 11 January 2011 and
imprisoned for 10 months. He was arrested again in 2013 and has been imprisoned since that time. He
has had his appeal rejected and he has not been allowed leave to visit his mother who is suffering with
cancer. On 17 July 2017, he went on hunger strike to protest the persecution of Christians in Iran.
120.
Mohammad Roghangir, Soroush Saraie, Seyed Bijan Farokhpour Haghighi and Eskandar
Rezaei are Christian converts from Islam who have been imprisoned in Shiraz, Iran on account of their
faith. Eskandar Rezaei was released on bail in October 2017. Roghangir has been serving his 6-year
sentence since July 2014. He was charged with ‘action against national security’ and ‘propaganda
against the order of the system’. Haghighi is serving his 3-year sentence since January 2017. He was
charged with ‘actions against national security’. Saraie was initially arrested but then was released in
November 2015. He was re-arrested in July 2017 and is in prison awaiting formal charges.
121.
Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie
were charged originally with acting against national security and have been given severe sentences for
house church activities and ‘promoting Zionist Christianity’. Each has been sentenced to 10 years’
imprisonment. On 6 July 2017, the lawyer for the defence received the verdict stating that the four
men were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on account of house church activities and ‘promoting
Zionist Christianity’. In addition, Pastor Nadarkhani was sentenced to two years’ exile in Nik Shahr and
Omidi was sentenced to two years’ exile in Borazjan. The lawyer appealed against the verdict and
received a notice that a hearing was to take place on 4 October 2017.
Converts
122.
It could be a problem to return to Iran if you are a convert, and if you were a known Christian
before leaving. If you were not known to the authorities before leaving, it would not be problematic to
get back into Iran but once you begin to live in Iran and attend Church, you would be identified and
perhaps targeted. The line between genuine converts and people who converted for other reasons is
blurred, and that is a problem. Some churches abroad are too quick to baptize, which creates a
problem for the genuine Christians. According to the source, you can tell who genuine converts are,
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and who are not, by the intensity and continuance of their practicing Christianity. Knowledge of
Christianity is not necessarily enough to assess whether someone is a genuine Christian; you would also
have to consider someone’s belief and feelings about religion. Furthermore, it is important to bear in
mind that many Christians in Iran do not receive the necessary pastoral care and learning about
Christian theology and even when their faith is strong, they may not have detailed theological
knowledge.
123.
When you return to Iran the authorities can see at the airport, when you left, and how long
you have been away from Iran – that is the case if you had originally left Iran via the airport/by airplane
and legally. If you had left Iran illegally, the government will not have an exact date of when you had
originally left the country. As regards the baptism MEC informed the delegation when a person is
baptized by a Church, there is hard evidence of the conversion to Christianity and a certificate is issued
and there is often photos etc. That could alert the authorities and prove problematic when the
individual is back in Iran.
124.
If someone has announced his/her Christianity on Facebook while abroad, the person would
probably be surveyed by the Iranian authorities. However, declaring your conversion on Facebook in
itself does not mean that you will be persecuted but monitored, if returning to Iran. If you are open
about your activities, an arrest or interrogation by the government upon return is not unlikely. But
declaring you are a Christian when you return to Iran, will cage you into a life of no rights, and put you
at risk. Being a Christian is considered a political opposition to the regime.
125.
According to MEC, it does not make sense to talk of the concept “silent Christians”. People
who are Christians are forced to educate their children in a Muslim way, and to change or lie about
their religious identity. You cannot just be low-profiled but would have to act against your faith in so
many ways; you would have to lie about your religion e.g. on job-applications, school-registration etc.
where you are always asked about your faith and religion. You would have to celebrate Eid and other
Muslim traditions, like going to the Mosque at burials. Otherwise it would be very odd. Islam is a
community-religion integrated into the Iranian culture, so even if the major part of the Iranian
population is not very religious, many customs and traditions in the country are Muslim. It would be
noticed if you do not participate, and you would easily be stigmatized. If you die a Christian, you would
not be able to get a Christian burial.
Meeting with Middle East Consultancy Services
London, 3 October 2017
126.
Since the year 2000 Middle East Consultancy Services (MECS) has been serving the public
and private sectors at local and international levels, including UK law firms, the UK Home Office,
international clients as the Belgian Interior Ministry, the Dutch IND, UNHCR, and Australian, Dutch and
Swedish solicitors. The primary objective of MECS is to provide research and analysis to enhance the
quality of decisions made at senior levels of the public and private sectors, nationally and
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internationally. MECS' reports cover the following areas of expertise: Research, Country Expert Reports,
Nationality/ Ethnicity disputes and Authentication. Among the countries MECS covers is Iran.
House Churches and Converts
Control with the house churches and converts
127.
House churches are prevalent due to the regime’s restrictions.
128.
MECS informed the delegation Christian converts might face arbitrary arrests, but are not
always sentenced.
129.
According to the source, Bibles and Christian worship are forbidden in Persian.
Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
130.
In July 2017, four Christian coverts were sentenced to 10 years in prison. They were accused
of being Zionist Christians, threatening state security.
96
131.
In March 2017, two converts (mother and son) were arrested and their religious
paraphernalia was seized.
97
132.
In March 2017, Iranian Christian covert Ebrahim Firouzi was issued a five year sentence for
“forming a group for disrupting national security”.
98
133.
In December 2014, Committee of Human Rights Reporter (CHRR) stated that some of the
Christian converts were arrested around Tehran on the Christmas day. The security forces, the CHRR
stated, raided and entered to a house church in Rodehen city, east of the Tehran province, to arrest
some of Christian converts. Half a dozen of them were released by CHRR. Two of them transferred to
unknown places. CHRR reported that a group of pious Christians gathered to pray for the birth of Jesus
Christ during Christmas, when a number of plainclothes officers with guns and handheld transceivers
raided and pushed their way to the place unresentfully. They searched the place and confiscated
computers, books, and leaflets, mobile phones. The security forces, CHRR stated, did not show any
96
Center for Human Rights in Iran, ‘Four Christian Converts Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment in Trial Lacking Due
Process’, 06 July 2017,
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2017/07/four-christian-converts-sentenced-to-10-years-
imprisonment-in-iran-in-trial-lacking-due-process/
97
Fox News, ‘Iran arrests two Catholics in new wave of brutality against Christians’, 08 March 2017,
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/03/08/iran-arrests-two-catholics-in-new-wave-brutality-against-christians.html
98
Farsi Christian News Network, ‘Iran Court Confirms Five Years Prison Sentence for Christian Convert’, 31 March
2017,
https://fcnn.com/en/?p=931
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respect for one of the neighbors who questioned officers’ actions, they confiscated the mobile phone
and identity document of this witness.
99
134.
On 27 August 2014, the UN’s Special Rapporteur reported that at least 49 Protestant
Christians were detained, many for involvement in informal house churches. In April 2014, security
forces reportedly raided an Easter service in a private home in southern Tehran and detained six
individuals: Ehsan Sadeghi, Nazy Irani, Maryam Assadi, Ali Arfa’e, Vahid Safi and Amin Mazloomi.
100
Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
135.
The source informed there is no legislation on apostasy in the Penal Code; however, many
converts are prosecuted.
136.
Of recent trials related to converts, the source mentioned several cases, including the Sina
Dehghan case from May 2016. Dehghan was charged of conducting teachers protest campaign and
blasphemy through writings online and sentenced to death by execution. He was arrested in October
2015 and the court decision was declared by the Revolutionary Court of Arak in May 2016.
101
The
sentence has been upheld by the country’s Supreme Court.
102
Another case from June 2015 is regarding
Hesameddin Farzizadeh who was sentenced to death for apostasy by the Criminal Court of
Meshkinshahr in Ardabil province. He was arrested in November 2014 in a raid on his house by the
lebas shakhsiha
(plain clothed agents). He was sentenced for his book
From Islam to Islam.
The charge
of apostasy stems from the mentioned book, in which he examines the history of Shi’a Islam and raises
questions about certain facets of Shi’a beliefs.
103,104
137.
Maryam Naghash Zargaran was arrested on November 5, 2012 for conversion to Christianity
and was sentenced to four years in prison by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court for “assembly and
collusion against national security” in 2013. The sentence was upheld by the Appeals Court.
105
99
Iran Press News, ‘Raiding a house church and arresting some of the Christians’, 31 December 2014,
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Annex C: Terms of Reference
1. House Churches and Converts
1.1. Control with the house churches and converts
1.2. Follow-up activities of the authorities in cases related to members of house churches and converts
1.3. Recent trial cases related to house churches and converts
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