Iran Arrests Christians in New Crackdown

In this photo taken Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010, Christians attend the Christmas Mass at the St. Grigor Armenian Catholic Church in Tehran, Iran. Iran’s recent crackdown demonstrates the limits of religious tolerance by Islamic leaders who often boast they provide room for other faiths.

Photo by Vahaid Salemi / AP

Iranian authorities recently arrested dozens of Christians, mostly coverts from Islam but also some Assyrian Chaldeans who were baptized as children. Article 18, a human rights organization, reports that at least 69 people were taken into custody. Asia News reports that after their arrest, people were forced to sign statements pledging to refrain from Christian activities or undergo Islamic re-education in order to be released.

“Overall, there seems to be a renewed or more aggressive crackdown on groups the regime feels threatened by,” said Article 18 director Mansour Borji.

– Catholic World News