A new joint report from Article 18, Open Doors, CSW and Middle East Concern warns that Christians in Iran are facing intensified persecution amid growing political instability. Titled “Scapegoats: Rights Violations Against Christians in Iran,” the assessment documents 254 arrests of Christians in 2025 on faith-related charges, primarily under laws criminalizing “propaganda contrary to the holy religion of Islam.” By year’s end, 43 believers remained imprisoned and 16 were in pre-trial detention.
The report notes a spike in detentions following Iran’s 12-day conflict with Israel last June, when five Christians were accused of espionage and sentenced to a combined 40 years in prison. Authorities also aired footage of confiscated New Testaments from believers arrested after attending religious training in Turkey.
Researchers observed that although fewer Christians were sentenced in 2025 than in 2024, penalties grew harsher, totaling 280 combined years. The report states the government “not only consistently fails to uphold human rights for its citizens, but brutally quashes dissenting voices, opinions or beliefs.” Iran ranks 10th on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the most dangerous countries for Christians.
