2. Iran

This year, Iran passed Saudi Arabia and now holds the second position on the WWL. The total number of points decreased slightly due to the absence of reports of Christians being killed for their faith, which happened during the previous reporting period. The wave of arrests of Christians which started in 2008 continued even stronger during 2009, resulting in at least 85 Christians arrested. It is suspected that the arrests are a way for the Iranian government to distract attention away from internal problems (such as the domestic turmoil after the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June) and to show they are still in control. Most of those arrested were mistreated in prison. Although the majority of the arrested believers have been released, court cases are still pending and believers can be sentenced at any moment. Many released Christians are being monitored and threatened. The arrests caused great fear among Christians. Iranian authorities closed some churches during 2009. The primary reason for the church closures is the attendance of many newly converted Muslims in their services.

Islam is the official religion in Iran, and all laws and regulations must be consistent with the official interpretation of Sharia law.  Although ethnic (Armenian and Assyrian) Christians are a recognized religious minority who officially are guaranteed religious freedom, they have reported imprisonment, physical abuse, harassment and discrimination because of their faith.  Armenian and Assyrian churches are allowed to teach fellow countrymen in their own language, but it is forbidden to minister to people with a Muslim background (speaking Farsi). Under the judicial interpretations of Sharia law, any Muslim who leaves Islam to embrace another religion faces the death penalty.

Many church services are being monitored by the secret police. Believers that are active in churches or the cell group movement are being pressured. They are questioned, arrested, put in jail and beaten. Individual believers are being oppressed by society, under pressure of the authorities.