The shutdown of the internet by the Iranian authorities has prevented Iranian Christians from communicating with the outside world in recent days. But we know that some Christians have joined the demonstrations, and that a man who is part of the network Danish European Mission cooperates with has been shot. We don't know how he is doing now. Other Christians have not joined the demonstrations.
Penalty tariffs hit the poorest
A leader in the network the Danish European Mission works with says that what Christians have said again and again during the demonstrations is: ”Pray for us”. The economic situation is very difficult and the cost of living is very high. One man said that his uncle, for example, has run out of medicine, so people are feeling the economic crisis in a very practical way.
Trump's recent announcement of punitive tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Iran is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Trump's punitive tariffs are an encouragement to the protesters, but on the other hand, they will hit the poor especially hard. The upper middle and upper classes will be fine, but Iranians in the lower economic classes will be under tremendous pressure if all countries in the world stop trading with Iran. There could be shortages of basic necessities, such as medicine.
Has Trump made false promises of help to the protesters?
The big question is what Trump will actually do. Will he really deploy the US military against the clerical regime? So far, he has promised help if the clerical regime kills protesters. And the opposition media Iran International estimates that 12,000 protesters have been killed so far. Some estimates are higher, but others are lower.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Ayatollah Khamenei has even admitted that ”several thousand” protesters have been killed, but accused them of being criminals and mercenaries.
- The Washington Post has collected Trump's statements where, just a week after protests began in Iran in late December, he promised on Truth Social that the US would come ”to the rescue” if the clerical regime killed peaceful protesters.
- A few days later, he followed up with a promise that ”if they start killing people as they have done in the past, we will intervene. We will hit them very hard where it hurts”.
- In another post, Trump promised that »HELP IS ON ITS WAY« and called on Iranians to »TAKE OVER« the regime's institutions.
If Trump doesn't act on his promises, thousands are currently taking to the streets in vain and could become victims of a regime that will not give up voluntarily, but will kill its own people if necessary to curb the uprising.
At the same time, there are rumors that US allies in the Middle East are advising Trump to be cautious about an attack, as the Iranian regime is not yet weak enough to topple if attacked militarily.
Whether Trump is truly reneging on his promises or just waiting for the right moment, thousands of protesters are dead. The Danish European Mission has received a report that confirms reports of high death tolls, with a father in Iran telling his son: ”the situation and conditions are far worse and more serious than what you see in the news and media - it is as if the cities and people have been attacked in a war. The number of people killed is much higher than what you hear in the news. He said that to cut the population off from the outside world, the authorities have not only shut down the internet, but are now going door-to-door and confiscating satellite dishes so people cannot watch foreign news.”
And the question is also what Reza Pahlavi can do. He appears on many media platforms and has called for demonstrations, but he hasn't been in Iran since the 1979 revolution, when his father, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, was overthrown as Iran's king. Will he be able to rally the opposition, which also consists of communist non-royal groups?
Iranians turn their backs on Islam
Paradoxically, the Iranian regime is also pushing the population further away from itself and Islam at this time. The regime's heavy-handed struggle for survival and religious rhetoric is causing people to seek alternatives. Iranian Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi Azad, for example, has stated that anyone who participates in demonstrations against the Iranian clerical regime will be considered an ‘enemy of God’. Such statements can create a backlash that creates openness towards Christianity, but also other religions
Since the 1990s, the convert church has also grown considerably, despite persecution, with converts receiving prison sentences of up to 15 years. Before the 1979 revolution, an estimated 500 Muslims had converted to the Christian faith. However, a 2020 poll of Iranians’ attitudes towards religion conducted by the secular Dutch institute Gamaan indicates that 1.5 percent of the population identifies as Christian, or 1.2 million. This figure is far higher than the latest official figure of 117,500 people, which only includes Christian ethnic minorities such as Assyrians and Armenians.
The same study indicated that 8.8 percent and 5.8 percent of the population identified themselves as atheists and agnostics respectively. Furthermore, the survey indicated that 59.5 percent of the population does not pray, while 27.4 percent pray five times a day. Additionally, in 2023, a senior Iranian scholar, Mohammad Abolghassem Doulabi, stated that 50,000 out of 75,000 mosques have been closed due to declining attendance, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. These numbers indicate that Iranians are turning their backs on Islamism and seeking alternatives. The regime's heavy-handed behavior towards the protesters will only accelerate this trend.
You can help underground Christians in Iran
In addition to attacking protesters, the regime persecutes Iranians who convert to the Christian faith and are active in the underground church. Currently, at least 24 Christians are serving prison sentences.
In addition, a large number of Christians are typically arrested each year and detained for days, weeks or months. During detention, they are interrogated and in some cases offered benefits if they choose to cooperate with the authorities, such as informing on other Christians.
- You can help Christians imprisoned in Iran and their families. Defendants receive legal aid to help them navigate the Iranian judicial system. In addition, families of Christian prisoners of conscience receive financial support to buy food, get medical care and other necessities. Legal and practical help costs an average of DKK 18,451 per year per person as needed.
The regime's oppression is creating a huge backlash, with young Iranians in particular seeking alternatives to the Islam of the clerical regime. There is a desperate hunger for the love of Jesus in Iran, for the peace that only God can give.
- Thank you so much for reaching people in Iran with the love of God in Jesus. It costs 55 kr. to ensure that a copy of The New Testament can be printed, smuggled and distributed in Iran or imported into neighboring countries where Iranians live.
