Shahrara Church is ordered closed by the Islamic Revolutionary Court
fcnn
06-Apr-2009 (19 comments)

According to reports received by the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN), March 19th has been declared “Fathers’ Day” in the Assyrian community of Iran. On this day, March 19, 2009, the Assyrian member of the Islamic Parliament, Mr. Younatan Bet-Kelia, in speaking to the Assyrian community has announced that the Shahrara Church will be closed in the very near future by the order of the revolutionary court. In this report it has been emphasized that primary reason for the closure of the church is the attendance of many newly converted Muslims in the worship and fellowship services of the church

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anonymous fish

my goodness hessam

by anonymous fish on

i can only assume you're referring to me as one of the few non-iranians on the site in general and the only non-iranian commenting on this blog.

dude... you simply MUST stop hanging around jaleho.  it's bad for your health and state of mind!  the only propaganda is that which YOU are spouting off. 

joe... i don't know what country you're talking about when you say "we in this country" but if you're talking about america, then i'll let you in on a little secret... we DO believe these reports and they ARE substantiated.  iran... a free and open society.  wow.  i guess those hundreds and thousands of dissidents killed or in prison haven't heard the news yet.   


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Practive what your preach Jaleho/blahblahblah

by sickofiri (not verified) on

Kaveh, LOL

Next time she talks about American "atrocities", we should also demand "balance" to cancel out all the bad things. I actually like her idea...hahaha


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Enti' Arabi??

by antijalo (not verified) on

Hesam Salehi: Why the personal attacks?

Why not provide evidence contrary to what you call "my lies". Unless you substantiate your own lies with factual and valid data, you have no leg to stand on.

Hessam Khan, your name is Arabic. I'm more Persian than you'll ever be. You're a quisling Tazi. How's that for personal attack?

LaANAT BAR IN AGHAZADEHA. I really hope some day we can bring charges against you in the court of law for being traitors.


Kaveh Nouraee

blahblahblah

by Kaveh Nouraee on

What you're proposing is that special recognition be given for something that occurs in civilized society?

Wow, big freaking deal. I am sooo impressed. Mollahs built a church. Hooray, let's all have a party to celebrate a singular act of decency in a 30 year old regime that is anything but decent. As if this one act is supposed to negate all of the shit the IR has done.

Iran isn't a theocracy, it's a dictatorship that prostitutes a religion and uses it as its front to create the facade that you and so many others have fallen for like chumps.

Why the hell are you comparing Iran with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey, or Israel's tolerance of other religions?

F**k those places, f**k each and every one of them. What do they have to do with Iran? Are we supposed to be brainless sheep like them and follow their worthless and miserable example? Or are we supposed to be above that, and set the standard so that other countries follow US?

Baha'is, Christians and Jews in Iran are screwed over because of the United States? Get real. If you believe that, I'll bet that you believe those e-mails from Nigeria that name you as a beneficiary of African royalty with millions of dollars waiting for you to claim.


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shameonjalo

by Hessam Salehi (not verified) on

And other non Iranians on this site, shame on you for spreading lies. This is the exact reason why the opposition is made fun of. They lie, steal and demonize Iranians and have become the 2nd MKO living in America. Shame on all of you, be it politically and socially uneducated American or Iranian. You have strong opinion but lazy enough not to want to find real information.
Shame on all of you propagandists. I hope the God that non of you set foot inside Iran.


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Discrimination against

by shameonjalo (not verified) on

Discrimination against religious minorities in IRAN
//www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/ir0108a.pdf

Iran’s President: ‘I Will Stop Christianity in This Country’

//www.aina.org/news/20070429191537.htm


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Persecution of Religious

by iriatrocities (not verified) on

Persecution of Religious Minorities in Iran
Robert Wood

Acting Department Spokesman

Washington, DC

February 13, 2009

The United States condemns the Iranian government’s decision to level baseless charges of espionage against seven leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm and Mrs. Mahvash Sabet. Authorities have detained these Baha’i for more than nine months without access to legal counsel or making public any evidence against them. The accusations reported in Iranian and international media are part of the ongoing persecution of Baha’i in Iran. Thirty other Baha’i remain imprisoned in Iran solely on the basis of their religious belief.

Other religious minorities continue to be targeted solely on the basis of their beliefs. Last month authorities arrested three Christians: Jamal Ghalishorani, Nadereh Jamali and Hamik Khachikian. In addition, authorities detained several members of the Gonabadi Dervishes, followers of Sufism, on Kish Island in January.

We join the international community in urging the authorities to release all religious minorities who are currently in detention for peacefully exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

//www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/02/117332.ht...
# # #


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blah blah blah - one sided

by blahblahblah (not verified) on

I dare people on Iranian.com that for everything negative they write, that they should follow it with something positive as well. At least be balanced.

Assyrian Church threatened to be closed down because it is accepting converts?

What about the Armenian Church the Islamic Republic built just a few years ago, in Maydaneh Maryam that is so beautiful and architecture is fantastic?

And it is built right next to one of the biggest parks in Iran.

How come no one mentions positives alongside the negatives?

Or the fact that a huge Jewish hospital was built 15 years ago in Tehran, that serves both Jewish and Muslim patients (but was built by Iranian Jews, and administered by Iranian Jews).

Or the fact that despite Iran being a "theocracy", it is much more tolerant toward its religious minorities (including Baha'is), than the majority of its secular neighbors:

Jordan - Against religious parties, Shias, Baha'is

Israel - Against Israeli Arabs and Palestinian Christians/Muslims

Saudi Arabia - Against any non-Salafi Sunnis

Turkey - against the Kurds and Sufis

Bahrain - Against Shi'as

India - Constant harassment of its Muslim minority (and it is illegal to convert anyone in India as well, and many are serving sentences there as well).

So we must conclude it has nothing to do with theocracy, because the majority of the states in the Middle East (and Central Asia) are SECULAR and yet even more repressive.

It has to do with Colonial and Imperial powers interfering with the affairs of the region, which makes leaders paranoid to open their societies up.

Becoming a Christian is not the threat issue (because IRI knows that people are drinking alcohol, and not practicing Islam in north tehran and does little about it)

It is about whose loyalty they will have, and will they become a 5th pillar if the US starts espionage in the country or tries to stir dissent.

You want open societies in the middle east? Start with telling the US to stop interfering in the region, and stop relying on our oil.


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RE:questions

by Joe L.-Not signed (not verified) on

Yes brother. Christians, Jews and Zoroasterians can worship freely and do what they do anywhere else. You may contact their rep in the parlement and ask for yourself. At this point there are not that many Christians or Jews in Iran for them to have a need for more churches or synagogues.

I also don't believe this news unless I hear it from reliable sources. We in this country twist and turn everything to justify a fallacy. Haven't you learned that by now? My people have been dealing with this kind of reports and degrading news for centuries.
I am a Muslim American from African decent and have visited the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran is a free and open society and they have no racism. I never felt more safe than when I visited there.


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Christian Persecution

by abcd (not verified) on

According to the Constitution, Islam is the state
religion. Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastranism are recog-
nized minority religions. The Bahai religion is not officially
recognized, however, as Bahai’s are considered to be Islamic
heretics. They therefore do not enjoy constitutional rights and
suffer severe persecution.

Everywhere, the citizen’s constitutional freedoms are crippled
by references to such vague considerations as ‘the need to
safeguard the interests of the state’. These qualifications allow
the authorities to impose their own interpretations on the
concepts concerned. The citizens’ freedom of expression ex-
cludes the freedom to shed doubt on the divine nature of Islam.
The Iranian constitution is based upon the interpretation of the
Koran and the Shariah (Islamic) law. According to this law,
the conversion of a Muslim to another religion is forbidden.
Muslims convicted of apostasy are eligible for the death penalty.
However, while proselytism is forbidden and apostasy is
punishable by death, Article 23 directs that “the investigation of
individuals’ beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested
or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.”

Since the Islamic revolution, Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian,
and Bahai minorities have suffered varying degrees of
discrimination, particularly in the area of employment and
education. Universities require applicants to pass “character
tests” in which officials analyze the background and ideology
of each applicant with their local religious authorities and
neighborhood groups. This process has allowed the state to
screen against those who were critical of the government’s
revolutionary policy. The government also requires applicants
to pass a test in Islamic theology, circumscribing the access
of most religious minorities to higher education. Applicants for
public sector employment are similarly required to meet certain
standards of adherence to Islamic orthodoxy.

CSW Reports on Iran

What is CSW doing to
help?

How can I help?

Can you recommend
some other Iran websites?

Learn about other
countries

Return to HOME

Violations of Religious Freedoms Suffered By Christians

Churches and Christian training centers are routinely monitored and there has been widespread closure
of these institutions by the Ministry of Islamic Guidance (MIG), forcing many churches to go underground.
The Armenian and Assyrian churches have been allowed to stay open because their services are
conducted in the Armenian/Assyrian languages and because they have agreed to the government’s
demands forbidding Muslims and Muslim converts from attending the church services and refraining
from evangelism.

Circulation of Christian literature, including scripture in the Persian language, is banned. The office of the
Bible Society together with all Christian bookshops were closed in 1990. Several Christian leaders,
mostly converts from Islamic backgrounds, have been executed or assassinated. The deaths which
occurred in 1994 are particularly renowned and include Rev. Hussein Soodman, Mehdi Dibaj and
Bishop Haik.

Since many Iranians "disappear" for days, weeks, months or years, it is not always easy to track the
persecution of the Christian minority in Iran. Most Christians are afraid to report persecution. Only the
most severe incidents are recounted to church leaders or to the outside world and some are reported
months or years after they occurred, often by refugees who have fled Iran.

However, amidst this bleak picture there is hope. A group of church leaders and elders whom CSW
recently met with spoke of relatively free times compared to what has passed. They described Iran as
a nation ripe for harvest, with many people ready to hear and believe the gospel of Christ, and spoke
of people meeting Christ in dreams, visions and through healing. They articulated with surprise and
delight that Christians in other countries were eager to pray for them.

Instead of despairing at the climate of persecution, they were rejoicing, saying they were glad that the
construction of church buildings was forbidden, because this meant they could focus on church growth
through an underground cell system.

Overall Human Rights Situation

Iran has earned itself an appalling reputation on the subject of human rights. Arbitrary detention, torture,
disappearance, summary trial and execution are not uncommon.

The legal system is in bad need of reform and the press continues to be suppressed. Although the
parliament has tried to instigate reforms relating to the position of women, they have been met with
severe opposition.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has appointed a Special Representative on Iran,
who submits reports to the Commission.

//www.cswusa.com/Countries/Iran.htm


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Are Christians in Iran

by questions (not verified) on

Are Christians in Iran allowed to build new Churches?


anonymous fish

fatollah

by anonymous fish on

oh god.. i can't breath.

your last comment... LOL  awesome.  kaveh... your own little mini-me!

smart asses... UNITE!


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It's true that Iranian youth

by Fatollah (not verified) on

It's true that Iranian youth convert to Christianity and become closet Christians in Iran, some are opportunistic and do it in order to pave the road, i.e. will seek asylum in Western countries later on. But most do it, simply out of despair and religious convictions!

In any case, Moslem countries are such hypocrites compared to Christian Westerners. In Germany, you have so many German youth converting to Islam because they mingle with Moslem youth and before anyone notice it, they follow their Moslem friends into the mosques and the rest is history! Now, I don't remember German people, Media or German government complaining about this phenomenon! But, as soon as some emigrant Moslem's rights are violated people start shouting, human rights, democracy and discrimination!

Go figure the rest, and if you can't, I believe Jaleho can give you an in depth analysis regarding the extent of democracy in Iran!

-F


Kaveh Nouraee

Sober Up

by Kaveh Nouraee on

Even an order to stop allowing converts is wrong. I'm no fan of anyone trying to recruit converts but if people want to convert freely and of their own will, that's not the IR's business, even though they make it their business.

Provide proof of your statement regarding public university professors signing documents as you describe or just stay quiet.

If Christianity didn't bring dark ages to Europe, something else would have brought it. Blaming a religion is just as ignorant as crediting a religion.

That goes for ANY religion.

Personally I don't care who or what you worship, or how you do it. Just mind your own business, and let other people worship whomever, however, whenever, wherever, and if they want.


anonymous fish

irrational

by anonymous fish on

first of all, this isn't about the US... it's about iran.  why do people always insist on comparing apples and oranges.  no wonder nothing ever gets resolved.  you just chase your tail with no hope OR desire for a solution.

what's the difference between being shut down and being FORCED to change your religious policy?  NONE... NADA...ZIP.

thanks for your wikipedia explanation of christianity.  what you know about christianity could fit in a shoe box.  a very very small shoebox.  puleez.

don't like it.  don't live there.  what??? that's your solution.  these people are iranians dude.  they live in iran.  it's not like coming to the US and deciding you want to change everything to suit you.  this is their home!!!

as far as the loyalty oath is concerned... you're either mislead or intentionally misleading.  there was and IS a reason for the loyalty oath.  yes it needs to be reassessed but it is a valid and legal requirement.

Most loyalty oaths required of public employees have been struck down by the Supreme Court, usually on the ground that they violate DUE PROCESS because they are vague and susceptible to wide interpretation. In Baggett v. Bullitt, 377 U.S. 360, 84 S. Ct. 1316, 12 L. Ed. 2d 377 (1964), the Court invalidated Washington's statute requiring teachers and state employees to take a loyalty oath. This oath stated that the employee promised to support the federal and state constitutions and promote respect for the flag and reverence for law and order. The Court held that the oath was unduly vague, uncertain, and broad. The Court found further that it violated due process and infringed on the teachers' FREEDOM OF SPEECH. (See also Cramp v. Orange

jeez.

 


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Wake up

by Rational1234 (not verified) on

Do you guys even read the articles? It wasn't shut down, it was ordered that it either stop evangilicization (allowing converts), or it will be shut down.

You guys are all hypocrites as well.

In the US, all professors in public universities must sign a document (even to this day, in the year 2009) that they do NOT belong to the communist party, and will not teach favorably to the Soviet Union or Communism.

In Iran it is about religious ideology, in the US it is about political ideology.

Non-Muslims don't have to serve the army, pay khums and zakat (instead a smaller religious tax is levied on them which is much smaller than khums and zakat), and can have their religious institutions as long as they don't bring converts in.

Don't like it? don't live there. Simple as that.

Christianity only brought dark ages to Europe, and at its downfall only brought sexual and moral corruption to the societies it touched.

Even in Iran's theocracy, science is promoted and encouraged. Same with Islam's Golden years when Europe was in the Dark Ages because it banned science.

Wake up people


Kaveh Nouraee

This is the IRI

by Kaveh Nouraee on

A "reason" is whatever they wish for it to be.

This closure comes upon the orders of the revolutionary court.

That itself presents the following problems:

A) That a church is closed by a court order. (No separation of clergy and state)

B) The court is a "revolutionary" one with the revolution it refers to being an "Islamic" revolution. (Further proof that Non-Moslems do not have the same rights as Moslems.)

Let some court just try and close a mosque and all hell will break loose.


Abarmard

Are you sure?

by Abarmard on

Are any reasons given?


Kaveh Nouraee

Pathetic and Disgusting

by Kaveh Nouraee on

These a-holes in parliament are obviously threatened somehow. The Assyrians represent such a tiny fraction of the population, yet the IR wants to shut down the church as if they're subversives.