Voice of the Martyrs: Immediate Future Bleak for Christians in Iran
by Chad Groening
January 6, 2004
(AgapePress) - An organization dedicated to helping the persecuted Church is not optimistic about the plight of Christians in Iran in 2004.Iranian state-run radio has accused President Bush of using U.S. aid to victims of a deadly earthquake as a cover to meddle in Iran's affairs. The president has called for democratic reforms in the country, which was among those nations included in his "axis of evil."
But such reforms may be necessary for religious freedom. Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs shares that in his conversations with Iranian Christians, he has heard stores about how quickly the secret police act against anyone who shows any interest in Christianity. He explains that in the Middle Eastern nation, one can get thrown in jail for just writing about Christianity.
"I met with one former teacher who did a research project on the Reformation. He had no interest in becoming a Christian at that time; he was a good, solid Muslim," he says. "But simply for doing research on the Reformation, he was thrown into prison."
Nettleton maintains that the Tehran regime is afraid of Christianity. "The nation of Iran is very fearful of the growth of the Church," he says. "They are very concerned that Farsi-speaking Iranians would become Christians -- and it doesn't seem that that's going to change in the short term."
But according to the VOM spokesman, Iranian Christians are more concerned about serving Jesus Christ than they are changing their oppressive government.
