Opposite me is Mojtaba, as we call him here for security reasons. He is a lawyer and has worked as a lawyer in Iran, where he defended Christians in the courts, among other things. He therefore has in-depth knowledge of the legal system in Iran. Today he lives in another country, but still helps persecuted Iranian Christians.
His law studies have left their mark, so he explains the laws by which Christians can be judged almost in the language of Canon Law. At the same time, his eyes are warm and he expresses gratitude to the Danish European Mission's intercessors and donors who help imprisoned Christians in Iran and their families.
"The regime sees itself as an Islamic state based on Sharia, Quran and Hadith"
- Mojtaba
"The family can be left without a breadwinner if a parent is imprisoned. We therefore support specific household expenses such as rent, food, schooling for the children, medicine, doctor's visits and surgeries, and provide legal advice to the accused."
"Because of the help, families don't feel abandoned, but that they are supported during the difficult time. It's about putting bread on the table. The families may also have children with special needs who need help."
Currently, 15 Christians are in prison in Iran, serving sentences of up to 10 years. Another nine have recently been sentenced to prison. These nine are waiting to serve their sentences. At least 20 Iranian Christians have been arrested in 2024; some were arrested, fined and released. "The situation has worsened in the first part of 2024," Mojtaba elaborates, compared to 2023 when more imprisoned Christians were released.
The hypocrisy of the Iranian regime
Remarkably, since 2010, no Christian converts have been accused of apostasy (apostasy from Islam), although this is the real reason for the charges. "Christians in Iran typically face three official charges: 1. propaganda against the state, 2. dishonoring Islam and 3. being a threat to national security. Apostasy is sometimes mentioned in court hearings, but is not included in the indictments as Iran cares about its international reputation."
"The constitution is used for foreign policy marketing, and in some cases the West believes the regime's narrative that there is freedom of religion in the country"
- Mojtaba
Mojtaba also believes that the regime is using the constitution to manipulate the EU and the US. "The constitution is contradictory because on the one hand it says that Iranian society is based on Islam, but at the same time it allows Christianity, Judaism and Zarathustrianism. The constitution is used for foreign policy marketing, and in some cases the West believes the regime's narrative that there is freedom of religion in the country."
Convert Christians can meet in underground churches
However, freedom of worship is extremely limited in practice. Christian ethnic minorities such as Armenians, Chaldeans and Assyrians can legally meet in church buildings and even have seats in parliament. But they are not allowed to hold services in Persian so that members of the majority population can understand the preaching.
Persians who convert from Islam to Christianity cannot legally meet in churches, but must meet in secret. As a result, Christian converts are on the authorities' radar, and leaders of underground churches in particular risk long prison sentences. "The regime sees itself as an Islamic state based on Sharia, the Quran and Hadith. And if you talk about Jesus, you convert people to Christianity and thus weaken Islam in the eyes of the regime," says Mojtaba.
Support Iran: Support for families of Christian prisoners
Facts about helping prisoners of conscience and their families: In 2023, Danish European Mission's intercessors and donors helped prisoners of conscience in Iran and their families, totaling 80 people. On the one hand, the accused received legal advice so that they are in the best possible position to face the Iranian judiciary, and on the other hand, the families received financial support to pay rent, electricity, water, food, children's school fees, medicine and medical care.
