Professional Documents
Culture Documents
org
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
IN THIS ISSUE
Floods in Pakistan: providing help to destitute Christians
The churches of Iran: oppressed by a persecuting regime
Where are converts from Islam most at risk?
Welcome from the Director
Contents
3 Project News
Healing wounds and
Baby Barnabas
and Baby Jesus
rebuilding lives in
East Africa
6 Focus
Aid for suffering
Christians in flood-
“It’s a miracle!” said Hina, a Pakistani
Christian, after the birth of her baby son
circumstances, was the wonderful
miracle of the Virgin Birth (Luke 1:34-35)
stricken Pakistan
at the height of the flooding crisis in and the even more wonderful miracle of
Pakistan earlier this year. Heavily the Incarnation, of God taking human
10
pregnant, Hina had become trapped in flesh (John 1:1,14). Mary and Joseph
Resources her remote flooded village in Punjab had no need to decide on a name for
DVD and other Province, and was afraid for the health their baby, because the angel had
materials for Suffering of the baby to be born in such a already told each of them to give Him the
Church Sunday dangerous situation. Then Barnabas name Jesus (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31),
Fund’s local Pakistani partners arrived showing that He was born to save His
to rescue her, along with scores of people from their sins.
Pull-out Supplement other Christian families. They took her
Christian converts from to safety and, when her labour began, The birth of a baby should always be a
Islam: where are they most to hospital. Hina’s husband, Aftab, cause for joy and celebration, as a new
at risk? works as a labourer and would have life comes into the world. Wilson Saraj,
struggled to afford the hospital fees, Barnabas Fund’s regional co-ordinator for
11
but Barnabas Fund covered the costs. South Asia, met Hina and Aftab while
Operation visiting flood-affected families throughout
Nehemiah To Hina it was a miracle that our partner Pakistan and said, “Amid countless
Update on Barnabas was there to rescue her, to take her to scenes of human tragedy and
Fund’s new campaign hospital and provide her with everything devastation, it was heart-warming to see
she and her baby needed. Hina and Aftab the joy which this new life – born at such
asked where the help had come from. a tumultuous time – has brought to his
12 Newsroom
Elder stabbed and
pastor beaten in
When they learned it was sent by
“Barnabas Fund”, they decided to name
their little boy Barnabas.
parents and their community.”
14 Country Profile
Iranian Christians
face a persecuting
another baby, far more of a miracle than
Baby Barnabas. The birth of Baby Jesus,
likewise in difficult though very different
Dr Patrick Sookhdeo
International Director
regime
2 18 In Touch
Barnabas
BARNABAS AID gift cards 2010
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
for your family and
To guard the safety of Christians in hostile environments, names may have been changed or omitted.
Thank you for your understanding.
Front cover: Hina, a Pakistani Christian, with her baby son, Barnabas, who was born at the height of the
friends flooding crisis (see pp 6-9)
Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version®.
Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and obtain permission for stories and images used
in this publication. Barnabas Fund apologises for any errors or omissions and will be grateful for any
further information regarding copyright.
Pakistan:
Aid for Flood Victims
When catastrophic flooding began in Pakistan At the time of writing we are still waiting for There are now major needs for the long-
in late July, Barnabas sent immediate grants detailed reports from most of our partners, term rehabilitation of the flood victims.
totaling £58,080 (US$89,814; €69,440) but one has told how he fed 142 Christian Please turn to pages 6-9 to find out how
through five Christian partners on the ground families from the village of Rangpur, Punjab. you can help, and to read about how
to provide aid for Christians affected by the Stranded by the flood water, they had been Christians who had lost everything found
disaster. As international news media later rescued by the Pakistani army but deposited strength in the Lord.
highlighted, Christians and other non-Muslims in a place where there were no arrangements
were being left out of much of the aid for feeding flood victims. From 9 to 17
distribution through other agencies. So we are August, our partner gave them three meals 00-634
very thankful for the quick and generous a day and after that provided each family (Disaster Relief Fund)
response of Barnabas Fund supporters that with flour, rice, sugar, pulses, clean water,
enabled us to help our Christian brothers and tea, salt, cooking oil, dried milk, dried chillis 41-919 Sponsoring a Pakistani
sisters as soon as this crisis hit. and soap. Christian flood victim family
Eritrea: Christian
Fellowship and Teaching for Prisoners and Their
Iranian Christians Families
A Christian conference can be such a boost for 120, being mainly students and asylum- A recent grant of £7,000 (US$10,800; €8,400)
our spiritual life. What encouragement comes seekers, could only pay a small percentage. is helping Christians who are held prisoner in
from the fellowship, the worship and the The grant from Barnabas covered 80% of Eritrea because of their faith in the Lord Jesus.
teaching! Imagine how much more important a their needs, including food, accommodation Many are held in appalling conditions, some in
conference is for Christians from a Muslim and travel. metal shipping containers, from which they
background who have to endure hardship and eventually emerge – if they survive – with
persecution, and often cannot meet with other Project reference 19-742 severely damaged health.
believers Sunday by Sunday.
Almost all pastors and church leaders who are
The Lord is bringing many Iranian not affiliated to the denominations recognised
Muslims to Himself, both within Iran by the government are currently under arrest,
and outside Iran. A grant of £9,600 reported our project partner in Eritrea when
(US$14,800; €10,603) enabled 120 thanking us for this grant. “Any Christian who
Farsi (Persian)-speaking Christians shares his faith publicly or practises his faith
to attend a summer Christian publicly is also arrested indefinitely. We
conference in a European country. support them through providing medication,
At this annual event, not only do food and clothing.” Most prisoners have
Iranian Christians find spiritual families who depend on them for their needs;
nourishment and fellowship, but when the breadwinner is in prison the family
some who live in remote places are need help with basics such as food and
able to be baptised at last, to their shelter, so our grant is also used to help them.
great joy. Worship at a summer Christian conferen After prisoners are released, they are given
ce for
Iranian converts from Islam. Many could help with security and health needs.
While some participants could attend
this spiritually enriching event only beca
cover all their own costs, these use of a
grant from Barnabas to help with the cost Project reference 12-863
s
AMONG CHRISTIAN
n 5 million people are now homeless.
n Families lost everything in the flooding
and subsequent landslides – livestock,
homes and businesses were swept
FLOOD VICTIMS
away; dozens of bridges were washed
away; roads and rail tracks were
submerged.
“The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is n 8 0 Christian families need to rebuild their
homes completely. A simple brick house
enthroned as King forever.” (Psalm 29:10) consisting of two rooms, a washroom and
a veranda, and a concrete block roof will
“When water attacked our house, I watched my parents who were worried and cost £2,500 (US$3,800; €3,000).
confused. I asked my mother, ‘What is happening?’ She just kissed me and
took my hand and told me, ‘Just pray.’ Next day I was hungry and I asked my n 5 50 Christian families need to repair their
mother, ‘I am hungry. Shall I go home and bring some food?’ She told me, ‘My damaged homes. Estimated cost: £760
son, God will send everything for us. Just pray.’” Little Stephen was too young (US$1,192; €894) per home.
to comprehend what was happening around them, and that they had been
evacuated from their village, leaving everything behind. Thankfully, one of Your gift to our Disaster Fund will enable
Barnabas Fund’s partners on the ground in
Barnabas Fund’s Christian partners arrived with food parcels for Stephen Jhon
Pakistan to assist the Christians in need,
and his family the next day.
according to priority, and will strengthen the
From the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan As people struggle to rebuild their lives, the faith of our brothers and sisters who have
to Sindh in the south, hunger, confusion Christians of Pakistan, already marginalised lost everything. (Project Reference 00-634)
and homelessness afflicted millions of and discriminated against, are particularly
people following the devastating floods vulnerable. Neglected by many other aid But how will the Christians manage
earlier this year. The United Nations has channels, they trust in the Lord and look to until their homes and livelihoods are
described it as the greatest humanitarian their Christian brothers and sisters for help. re-established? At least 1,000 Christian
crisis in recent history. “Christians are crying out for help!” said one families will need ongoing, long-term
church leader. food support while they rebuild their
lives. Can you sponsor a family? For
Will you answer their just £30 ($45, €35) a month, you can
provide the food needs of one flood-
call?* affected family while rehabilitation work
is carried out.
n 5 00 Christian families need non-food
items such as soap, cooking utensils, BARNABAS FUND HELPING
mattresses and pillows. Cost: £80
(US$125; €94) per family. THOSE IN NEED
n 1 ,000 Christian families have lost their In response to the initial emergency,
means of livelihood and desperately Barnabas Fund quickly stepped in to channel
need help to become self-sufficient support to Pakistani Christians through local
again. In Sindh and Punjab, families churches and Christian organisations in
require £65 (US$102; €77) per acre Pakistan, providing food parcels. These
Stephen Jhon, aged 8, and his mother could do parcels contained such items as rice, flour,
nothing to help themselves after the for seed, fertiliser and ploughing. For
devastating floods in July 2010; they could those who had shops or small
* Figures are estimated at the time of writing and may change.
only pray. But the Lord answered through businesses, the estimated cost to help Prices are likely to rise because of post-flood shortages. Numbers
Barnabas Fund and provided for their needs them start up again is £530 (US$830, of families in need are likely to rise as our partners make contact
€623) per family. with more isolated Christian communities.
COURTYARD
WHO WILL HELP THE CHRISTIANS?
Christians in Pakistan live in great poverty, often ... not identified and registered. Thus, they
despised by their Muslim neighbours and are automatically excluded from any health care
BEDROOM BEDROOM suffering widespread social and political or food, as they supposedly do not exist.”
discrimination; the disastrous flooding has
worsened their already precarious position. Bishop Humphrey Peters of the Church of
The Pakistani government was criticised for Pakistan’s Diocese of Peshawar (in Khyber
KITCHEN
VERANDAH its ineffective response at the beginning of the Pakhtunkhwa Province) said, “We are sure that
flooding crisis, and international support was some countries will come forward with aid
BATH
also slow to arrive. packages, but hardly anything will reach the
minority Christians.”
LAWN
On 26 August, Pakistani national newspaper
Dawn reported that flood victims were being Yunis Lal Din, leader of the Fellowship of
FLOOR PLAN refused shelter and discriminated against in the Brethren Churches in Pakistan, told Barnabas
distribution of healthcare and aid because of Fund on 5 August: “Many Christians were
their ethnicity, caste or religion already in poor circumstances and are now
(http://bit.ly/af7RHG). Concern was also doubly affected and do not know where to find
The basic design of a new house for specifically expressed over the treatment of help.” He praised Barnabas for being so quick to
Christian families who lost their homes in Christians in the distribution of aid; one local send funds for Christians, right at the beginning
the flooding volunteer reported, “The Christian refugees are of the crisis.
organisations)
emphasis added)
familyofbelievers.” Galatians
especiallytothosewhob
opportunity, let us do good
exclusive
This year’s Suffering Church Sunday resources focus on the need for Christians to be prepared for
The “Barna
to them
persecution. We invite your church or fellowship to choose a Sunday in November (or another
(“As
our
to Christians,
projects
we
Christians
by local
where funds
aid
environments
existing
not be
have
or Christian
elongtothe
to all people,
at
of the least of these brothers
Distinctive
■ tackle persecution at
■ encourage, strengthen
■
WESEEKTO:
meet
international bodies
persecution known to governments
world and the injustice of
needs known to Christians
Church, to be their voice
opportunity for you and your church to prepare yourselves to face the serious challenges that
of mine, you did for me.”
of non-believers
sending out
spiritual needs
persecuted
– making their
their
with the
maintain their
than setting
around the
leaders often
and
Biblical
compassion,
people
both religious
and mission in
challenge of
deny full
either
minorities
for the
in the West
charge from our online shop www.barnabasfund.org/scs or your national Our Father in heaven, I/Wewouldliketoreceiveregularnewsandprayerinformationaboutthe
persecutedChurch
We pray for those who seek to persecute Your children, that they will To help Christians support themselves by starting up a smallbusiness
turn their eyes to You and come to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour. To support Christian pastors and evangelists
n Prayer-and-response cards,
We pray too for ourselves. Lord, we know that we are not immune to To help feed our persecuted brothers and sisters
n DVD “Be on Your Guard”. This contains mockery, harassment and even persecution for Christ. Should we find
ourselves suffering because of our faith in You, we ask that You will
enable us to stand firm in all our trials. May we know that You are with Name:
To help Christian children to get a Christian education
Amen
Christian woman who was born in the Suffering Church Sunday and UK Australia New Zealand Telephone:
Postcode:
your congregation
SCS 08/10
Convert Danger Index The ranking system also takes into account many other legal factors
that affect converts’ lives. These include prohibitions on worshipping
Barnabas Fund has recently carried out a survey of 24 Muslim- freely and and meeting together, prohibitions on evangelism and the
majority countries to discover where in the Muslim world converts production of religious literature, and limitations on converts’ changing
from Islam are most under threat. We have ranked each country
their religious status in law from Islam to Christianity, which in turn
according to the risks faced by its converts. The survey also
impacts on their freedom to go to church, to marry a Christian, and
highlights the different types of problems that converts encounter
their children’s freedom to inherit.
in different contexts1.
The ranking also reflects how strongly certain norms of Islamic
Creating the survey behaviour (for example, regarding dress or education) are legally
The ranking system we have created focuses upon two key areas: enforced, as converts often find life harder if they are in an
the legal structure of Muslim countries and the actual incidents environment where the population is legally obligated to adopt these
of persecution suffered by converts. We have given each country norms. Finally, it acknowledges positively the legal rights to change
a score in each of these areas, and then added the two scores one’s religion and to propagate religions other than Islam that exist in
together. The higher the score a country has, the worse it is (relatively few) Muslim countries.
considered to be for converts from Islam. However, the laws of Muslim countries provide only half the picture.
First, the legal threats to converts were analysed by looking at To complete it we need also to focus on the actual incidents of
the laws that can be used against them in different countries. persecution that converts face, because it is these that impact most
Important here is the role of sharia. Some Muslim countries make directly upon their lives. It is possible for a country to have lenient laws
sharia one of several sources of law, while others make it the but for converts to experience much persecution from society or even
main source. Under sharia the punishment for leaving Islam is from officials acting outside the law. We have graded such incidents
death. Even though this punishment is rarely enforced officially, according to severity: official executions by government are ranked as
it is written into the legal codes of some Muslim countries and the most severe, followed by unofficial murders of converts, and then
influences attitudes in their societies. While most Muslim countries by imprisonment, fines and other forms of harassment. The incidents
have subscribed to international treaties that protect religious are also graded by how frequently they have occurred in particular
freedom, such as the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, countries over the last three years, relative to the number of converts
many of them consider sharia more important than such treaties, in that country: regular occurrences are treated as more significant
making the treaties virtually useless. than occasional ones.
1
The following countries were omitted from the survey owing to lack of data or other reasons: Albania, Bahrain, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Kazakhstan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Niger, Oman, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, United Arab Emirates.
2. Afghanistan
8. Egypt
Most Afghan Muslims
There is no law
believe that death is the
in Egypt against
appropriate punishment
apostasy, but
for conversion from
Christian converts
Islam. Abdul Rahman
often face 3. Saudi Arabia
was charged with apostasy in 2006, and
harassment and severe pressure from Saudi law is based on sharia, Muslim clerics led calls for his execution.
the authorities and from society and which prescribes the death Eventually he was freed but had to leave
cannot change the religion shown penalty for apostates, so the country. In June 2010 two converts
on their identity cards from Islam to the small number of Saudi were pilloried on national television: a
Christianity. In 2009 Maher el-Gohary Christians have to practise senior politician called for their execution,
was refused permission to have his their faith in secret. In 2008 and the president has promised action
card amended, and since then he and Fatima Al-Mutairi had her to prevent further conversions. Over 20
his daughter have both been forbidden tongue cut out and was Afghan Christians were arrested following
to leave the country and subjected to burned to death by her family the broadcast.
physical assault. when they discovered that
she had converted from Islam
to Christianity.
23
19
24 13
18 14
16
23
17 21 4 2
11
20
12
10
8
3 22
7 5
9. Mauritania 1
Mauritania is governed by sharia.
Conversion from Islam is forbidden,
and apostasy is punishable by
death, although the penalty has
not been imposed in recent years.
The Christian population is a 6. Comoros
tiny proportion of the whole, and Only a few hundred converts from
6
almost all of them are expatriates Islam are known to live in the
rather than Mauritanian converts. Comoros, although there may also
Converts have to practise their be many secret believers. Apostasy
7. Sudan (North)
faith in secret for fear of legal or is prohibited by the country’s penal
communal reprisals. The South of Sudan is predominantly
code. Comoran Christians have
Christian, but the North is mainly Muslim,
no church buildings and suffer
and sharia is in force there. Converts from
discrimination and harassment.
Islam face violence from their families
There is concern that Islamic
and persecution by the authorities. When
radicalism is increasing, threatening
Alladin Omer Ajjabna Mohammed was
a stricter interpretation of sharia law.
charged with apostasy, he was prevented
from leaving the country, tortured, injected
with drugs and finally forced into hiding.
15
5. Yemen
1. Somalia In Yemen apostasy is punishable by
Converts in Somalia live execution. In 2000 Muhammad Haj
in greater peril than most. Omar was sentenced to death by
Many have been murdered a Yemeni court for his conversion
by Muslim radicals. In to Christianity, and only after an
2008 David Abdulwahab international outcry was he deported
Mohamed Ali was killed by his cousin and instead. Although there are no recent
members of the militant group al-Shabaab reports of the death penalty being
when he acknowledged to them that he was carried out, Christian converts face
a follower of Christ. The killing of converts has arrest, torture and murder by the
continued to the present time. Political Security Office.
Results of the survey But it is important to remember that the safety of converts also
depends upon their families, and even in Muslim countries that
The Convert Danger Index has revealed the most dangerous
are relatively safe (and also in non-Muslim countries) converts’
countries for converts from Islam in the Muslim world. The top five
families can put heavy pressure on them or even threaten them
on the CDI are:
with violence and death.
1. Somalia is ranked as the most dangerous and restrictive
country for converts. Aggressive Islamic radicals exercise immense Legal ranking Incident-based ranking
power, and although only a few hundred converts are believed to
1 Saudi Arabia 110 1 Somalia 125
be living in the country, regular reports are received of their being
murdered for leaving Islam. The radicals aim to kill all of them. 2 Afghanistan 109 2 Afghanistan 110
2. Afghanistan is home to a particularly radical and intolerant form 3 Iran 108 3 Saudi Arabia 100
of Islam, and converts are very unsafe there. The government has 4 Yemen 104 4 Iran 85
recently launched a crackdown against missionaries and converts, 5 Somalia 100 5 Pakistan 75
and the Taliban have also killed apostates from Islam.
6 Comoros 96 6 Egypt 70
3. Saudi Arabia’s legal structure is completely intolerant of 7 Sudan (North) 90 7 Uzbekistan 65
converts from Islam. As almost all are secret believers, it is hard
to estimate the numbers. The law gives a death sentence for 8 Mauritania 79 8 Algeria 60
apostasy. 9 Egypt 73 9 Comoros 60
4. The large numbers turning to Christ in Iran have prompted 10 Morocco 60 10 Sudan (North) 60
a harsh government backlash. Converts face harassment, 11 Algeria 57 11 Turkmenistan 60
imprisonment and torture. One has been executed and others have 12 Tunisia 43 12 Yemen 55
been kidnapped and murdered.
13 Uzbekistan 31 13 Turkey 55
5. Yemen’s legal system officially prescribes the death penalty for
14 Indonesia 31 14 Tajikistan 55
anyone who chooses to leave Islam.
15 Turkmenistan 31 15 Indonesia 50
The rankings also show that some countries that have a reputation
for representing a tolerant form of Islam are in fact very intolerant 16 Jordan 26 16 Kyrgyzstan 50
of converts. 17 Pakistan 23 17 Mauritania 50
The survey has shed some light on the different types of problems 18 Iraq 23 18 Morocco 45
converts face in different countries. Some countries, such as 19 Tajikistan 22 19 Bangladesh 35
Yemen, have harsh laws against converts but relatively few 20 Syria 22 20 Iraq 30
incidents of persecution. In these countries there are a very small
21 Bangladesh 13 21 Jordan 30
number of converts, most of whom are living in complete secrecy.
Other countries, such as Turkey, have a relatively liberal legal 22 Azerbaijan 13 22 Tunisia 20
system, but some converts are targeted by radicals and there is a 23 Kyrgyzstan 7 23 Azerbaijan 15
strong feeling in society against them. 24 Turkey 5 24 Syria 10
It appears also that in some countries – notably Kyrgyzstan and
Bangladesh – converts are relatively safe. They may not be These tables show the ranking of treatment of Christian converts
completely free and may sometimes face dangers, but they can for from Islam in 24 Muslim-majority countries, according to the
legal and incident-based ranking
the most part lead normal lives and do not have to live in secrecy.
Freedom to Believe is available to order at the offer price of £6.99 plus £2.00 postage and packing. Please visit our website,
www.barnabasfund.org/shop, or contact your nearest Barnabas office (addresses on back cover).
AZERBAIJAN: WORRYING
PRECEDENT SET AFTER
CHURCH LOSES LEGAL
FIGHT
On 30 July, a church in Azerbaijan lost its letters informing
fight to win back legal recognition after them that their
being refused registration under a new applications had The remains of Cathedral of Praise Church, Baku City,
religion law. been refused, which was destroyed in a fire in January
including Cathedral
The law, passed in 2009, required all of Praise Church, Baku City. further appeals and gives a bleak outlook
previously registered religious for the other churches who have also
organisations to gain new accreditation. On 25 May Pastor Halilov, from Cathedral of contested the refusal of their applications.
All churches had to submit documents to Praise Church, wrote to the Committee of
re-register by the start of 2010, and many Religious Affairs (CRA) to contest the refusal, On 9 January the tent used by Cathedral
were required by the authorities to amend but two months later, a judge delivered the of Praise Church for worship was
their constitutions, particularly with regard disappointing verdict that the CRA had not destroyed in a fire; the CRA refused
to outreach and children’s summer acted unlawfully in rejecting the application. permission for the congregation to rent
camps. Churches then began receiving This ruling sets a worrying legal precedent for alternative premises for church services.
Iran
Iran is a country often in the news. Its development of nuclear energy, its
suppression of political opposition after a disputed election, its threat to stone or
lash a woman accused of adultery: all these are widely covered in the media and
seize the attention of Western observers.
But another story from Iran goes almost untold and unnoticed: the story of Iran’s
Christians, and especially of its Christian converts from Islam, who are among the
most severely persecuted believers in the world.
Hamid Shafiee and his wife Reyhaneh Abbas Amiri and his wife Sakineh Rahnama, a
Aghajary, also converts and church couple in their 60s, were physically assaulted by
leaders in Isfahan, were detained on 28 security officers at a church meeting that they
February 2010. When Reyhaneh hosted in their home in July 2008. Abbas, who was
protested, officers insulted and assaulted a convert, was savagely beaten, and he died of his
her and squirted her with pepper spray. injuries two weeks later. Sakineh also died of her
Bibles, books, CDs and computers were wounds and from stress-related causes the
confiscated from the couple’s home. following month.
They too were released later, but are
expected to face a court hearing.
Guidance often attend services. Permits television programmes. The main churches in Iran has happened in
are required for many activities and are telecommunications company was recently response to this persecution to provide a
not always granted. Church leaders in bought by the Revolutionary Guards. way for Muslim converts to worship.
particular are subject to intense
surveillance, and some even have their Sometimes the government refuses Apostasy from Islam is seen by many
phones tapped. applications for the construction of new Muslims as equivalent to treason, and all
church buildings or forces existing ones to be schools of Islamic law specify the death
Congregations are required to register closed. Christian training centres and other sentence for adult male converts from
with the authorities, to compile and institutions have also been shut. A ban is in Islam. The connection between
submit membership lists for them, and to place on the publishing or importing of conversion and treason has been
inform them before admitting new scriptures and Christian literature, and it is an reinforced recently by the government’s
people. Their members have to carry offence even to possess or sell a Bible. linking of converts with the West and
membership cards and provide Israel. At a time of international tension
photocopies of these to the government. this poses a significant risk to them.
Worshippers are subject to identity Attacks on
checks outside church buildings, and
some churches are allowed to hold
leaders But according to the 1989 Iranian
constitution, judges must make their
services only on Sundays. Since the 1979 revolution a number of judgments first on the basis of Iranian
prominent Christian leaders have been law; only in cases where Iranian law has
It is illegal to conduct church services violently attacked, and several have been nothing to say are they directed to use
and Bible studies in Farsi, the language murdered. It is alleged that at least some of authoritative Islamic sources and
of the Muslim majority in Iran. This the assassinations were carried out by a authentic fatwas. Thus far Iranian judges
means that while members of the historic death squad operating within the security have been able to impose the death
churches are allowed to worship in their services and acting on orders from the penalty in apostasy cases only on this
own languages, converts from Islam, highest level. There was a spate of such second basis, not on that of Iranian law.
who are Farsi-speakers, cannot do so. killings in the 1990s, though more recently There have been no reported executions
Sharing one’s faith with Muslims is these have become rarer. of converts since the hanging of Hossein
strictly prohibited, and Christians can be Soodmand in 1990.
put under extreme pressure to reveal the But leaders remain in danger, especially
names of any Muslims to whom they those who are involved in ministry among But in September 2008 the Iranian
have spoken about their faith. Some Muslims or who lead convert churches – parliament gave provisional approval to a
church leaders are pressured by the especially if they are converts themselves. bill that mandates the death penalty for
authorities to sign pledges saying that Those who refuse to collaborate with the (male) apostasy as part of Iranian law. In
they will not evangelise or baptise secret police are threatened with arrest, June 2009 a committee of the parliament
Muslims or even allow them to attend indefinite detention and even death. recommended removing this provision
church services. Such pledges can be a from the bill, but no further news has
condition for the issuing of government
licences for ministry. Muslims are
Persecution of been received since then. If it were
passed into law, converts to Christianity
discouraged from even entering Christian converts would be in greater danger of judicial
premises. execution.
Converts from Islam to Christianity are
Many conversions from Islam to persecuted more harshly than other Even without this ultimate sanction,
Christianity have resulted from satellite Christians in Iran. Converts are the primary however, the Iranian authorities have
television and radio broadcasts. The target of the Iranian authorities. For this effective means of persecuting converts.
government has responded by putting up reason they cannot participate openly in In recent years there have been numerous
towers in major cities to jam signals and Christian worship, and many choose to keep reports of their systematic arrest and
controlling telephone lines to Christian their faith secret. The growth of house indefinite detention.
Although charges are rarely pressed as far as Western governments are currently Barnabas Fund’s
conviction and sentencing, the authorities’ considering their options for containing
tactic appears designed to intimidate the this threat, and it seems that military
support for
Christians into either abandoning their new action of some kind is a real possibility. Iranian
faith or fleeing the country. In this hostile
environment the conversion of so many Western intervention in Iraq and the Christians
Iranian Muslims to Christianity is all the more internal strife that followed it have been
remarkable – and even greater ground for disastrous for the churches, with vast
thanksgiving. numbers of believers displaced within the
country or forced to become refugees Barnabas Fund is assisting with a
For many years the Iranian government has also elsewhere, and many killed in savage number of projects that help Iranian
been threatening Iranian converts to Christianity outbreaks of anti-Christian violence. Their Christians, but we cannot usually
outside the country. Then in September 2008 tragic story suggests that if similar action publicise what we are doing in case
the Iranian parliament gave it the authority to it puts them at risk. If you would like
is taken against Iran – whether justified
reach beyond the borders in pursuit of to support this work, you may like to
or not – the consequences for the Iranian
Iranians who have left Islam. Converts have send a donation to the Iran General
churches are likely to be enormous. And
been harassed even in the West. Fund (project reference 19-940)
if there is indeed a backlash against
which will be distributed between
Christians, converts from Islam will suffer
Storm clouds the most.
the various projects.