Report: Iranian Authorities Detain Children During Raid on Church’s Christmas Celebrations
- Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:03am by
Billy Hallowell
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. (Photo: AP)
There‘s no shortage of stories surrounding Iran’s continually-horrendous human rights record. Following the Christmas holiday, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a U.K.-based nonprofit, is making some startling charges. According to the group, Iranian authorities raided a church that was celebrating Christmas last week and detained everyone in the building — including kids who were in Sunday school.
CSW claims that officials in Ahwaz, a southern town in Iran, raided the church — an affiliate of Assemblies of God — and placed all congregants into two buses. The majority of those celebrating at the house of worship were purportedly interrogated, threatened and then eventually released, but the church’s senior pastor (a man known only as “Farhad”) apparently remains in detention. His wife and some church leaders, too, were said to be held still by Iranian officials.
Here’s the really odd part (aside from the inability of Iranians to worship openly): CSW claims that the church isn’t underground and that it has been an official and established house of worship for quite some time (the Christian Post says there are about 70 registered churches in Iran). But this apparently isn’t the first time that Farhad has had run-ins with the law. In the past, he‘s been told not to allow Muslim converts into the church and he’s been detained numerous times before.
Here’s more from the organization’s press release:
This wave of arrest comes as Iranian media has been publicising a Christmas message sent to Pope Benedict from Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani, in which he congratulated his Christian counterparts on the “auspicious anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ”, wished blessing, happiness and prosperity to the Pope and all Christians in the coming year, and stated that the world’s ills were caused by ignoring ethics and justice.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “Mr. Larijani’s Christmas message may have been well intentioned, but it is entirely undermined by these arrests, which violate the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and Iran’s own constitution. The Iranian authorities often insist that Christians are being arrested for indulging in actions that threaten public security, however, it is difficult to conceive how children attending Sunday school or, for that matter, legitimate Christmas celebrations fit into this category. It increasingly appears as if the Iranian regime has decided to deem every act of Christian worship a threat to national security. If this is indeed the case, then the right to freedom of religion or belief is gravely under threat in Iran.”
Iran has apparently claimed that authorities only arrest individuals when their actions threaten public security. If the claims presented by CSW are true, though, this proclamation clearly isn’t. The non-profit is asking supporters to send notes to the children who were detained, as they believe some of them may be scared and emotionally-impacted by the events that unfolded.
Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani
This case is highly reminiscent of Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s ongoing legal drama, which the Blaze has highlighted frequently over the past few months. While the reasons for Nadarkhani’s detainment continue to evolve, a decision regarding his fate could come at any moment. Currently, he faces the death penalty for apostasy (although the government has claimed his situation comes as a result of a number of other alleged crimes).
Religious freedom clearly isn‘t at the forefront of Iranian authorities’ concerns.
(H/T: Christian Post)
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baker john
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 6:12amJust shows the The majority of muslims are afraid of Christians You can convert from being a Cristian, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu etc. etc. to being a muslim that’s fine with them but the other way around is a NO GO punishable by death who is afraid of who if you have to keep your so called believers by that threat hanging over there heads you must be worried about losing them .
Report Post »john law
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:22amThese actiions from people who accuse the western culture of conducting a religious war against Islam. Islam is the product of a sick minded, thieving, pediphile, killer. You tell me how can Islam be a religion of peace? Word descriptions aside, most rational people judge be actions. Muslims have waged war on Christians for years.
In 1804, President T. Jefferson sent the navy and marnines to the barbary coast to stop the pirates from enslaving Americans. He also said “millions for defense, not one penny for tribute”. Still good advice today. Islam comes from Shaitan.
Report Post »FANGS
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:37pmAnd now this. Christians also had 2 Churches in Nigeria on X-Mas . Our Christian Religion is being Assulted every day and Obama says NOTHING.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:32amElections have consequences. He doesn’t know what to say.
Report Post »nolefan2
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 6:46pmThis is a disturbing story, but what disturbs me even more is the fact that this action could take place in this country sometime down the road.
Report Post »GingerB
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:35pmThe Christians of Iran or any other Muslim nation are courageous and devout people. I pray for all of them , for they have heard God’s voice in a world that hates Him. They stand strong and attend church, become ministers, as Yousef Nardarkani has, and celebrate their faith in Christian Churches… I am proud to call them brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray for these amazing Christians who know they are going against the odds and the government…. God Bless Each of You.
Report Post »I always ask a special prayer for Pastor Nardarkani, it has been his 3rd year in prison, with a death sentence hanging over his head, yet he has not denounced his faith…… I believe a question we all need to ask ourselves is, would we stand firm in our faith as Yousef is doing. I pray our answer is a strong and hearty, “AMEM.”
johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:56pmIsn’t it really weird that every time there is a confrontation between the US and Iran during the Obama administration, the mullahs come out on top? They now have one of our drones virtually intact. Obama wouldn’t intervene in Syria, wouldn’t help the protestors in Tehran in 2009 and have been served-up Iraq on a silver platter.
How do you think that the mullahs have managed to pull this off? No, I‘m not going to listen to theories about vast sums of Internet contributions to Obama’s 2008 campaign originating with the mullahs. It’s simply not possible for them to distribute all those pre-paid Visa cards to the Iranian Guard with orders to “contribute or else!” It just simply ……………sounds a lot like Chicago politics on an international scale.
Report Post »B-Neil
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:17amThere comes a time when you have to face reality. We need to crank up the Crusaders again. Governments today are to gun shy to take the appropriate actions. Knowing this; the Radicals will keep prodding and probing, killing and maiming. They never had anything, therefore they have nothing to lose. Ya can’t talk to them. The only thing they respect is death and distruction. I say give them all they can handle. CARRY ON McDUFF p.s. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all (duck an cover)
Report Post »frank
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:34amThe Muslims cults are making their own grave. Look at History.
Report Post »HumbleCitizen
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:12amRight now the USA is like the Titanic and we’re going down fast. I’d rather focus on the gash in my countried hull (executive orders, COG, NDAA, HB504, patriot act, etc.) than to focus on the iceberg (foreign policy).
The USA has too many problems, we have to prioritize. Our FIRST focus in getting our country back to the constitution. That will give time to find knowledgable people to address foreign policy and for the American people to speak up.
BUT…AMERICA FIRST. If we lose freedom here, the whole world goes down.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:37amI couldn’t agree more.
Report Post »techengineer11
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:30amNo we need a War immediately. Israel needs the regime in Iran to be destroyed yesterday and we must carry out the order or the West falls.
You educated now?
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:29pmcorrect…Ron Paul believes the same thing….they’re calling him a racist
Report Post »OldVietVet
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:40am“Religion of Peace”–as long as you believe as they do!
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:39amThe peace comes after all the infidels have been eradicated.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:59amPeople, don’t worry. When Ron Paul gets to be president, he‘ll bake them up a big platter of cookies and tell them we’re sorry for being mean to them.
There’ll be no more wars and all the world will bright and sunny!!.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:16amRon Paul is ignorant with regards to Islamic Jihad. He believes that Jihad is a reaction to some perceived slight inflicted upon innocent muslims by the stupid Americans and their evil war machine.
Jihad is a mechanical process used to spread Islam. It is not a reaction to anything. It is proactive action undertaken by devout muslims in an effort to spread Islam in praise of their deity, Allah, and following the example of their warlord prophet, Mohammed.
Ron Paul’s child-like ignorance about the real world, will result in untold deaths should he be given control of America’s foreign policy and our military.
And I have suspicions that he performs dawa for the House of Islam.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:57am@mike_trivisonno
Now come on, Mike. Ron Paul is the only politician who has ever read the constitution and ALL the others are evil neocons who are part of the Bilderberg group.
All we have to do is make friends with the terrorists and they’ll be perfectly willing to forget that their god wants them to exterminate all of us.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:04am@ QPWILLIE
Imam Paul has me convinced. I am going to get prayer rug and a koran and smack my head on the ground five times a day!
Report Post »mean_conservative_teacher
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:32amI don‘t see how Ron Paul’s foreign policy differs that much from Obama’s. If he becomes the Republican nominee, we can expect four more years of bowing no matter who wins.
Report Post »Byzantine_Catholic
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:50pmSo how is the Republican Foreign Policy workin’ for ya?
–>total for wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is at least $3.2-4trillion (Brown university)
–>potential nearly $1 trillion in extra spending to care for veterans returning from combat through 2050 (included in 3.2T)
–>An unfunded WAR that our kids and Grandchildren will be paying for with interest (included in 3.2T)
–>nearly 4500 American soldiers dead (Iraq)
–>nearly 32,000 American soldiers wounded many of them amputees (Iraq)
–>Christians now persecuted in Iraq (USCIRF report states that the Iraqi christian population is down 50% from 2003 levels )
–> Republican insistence of the nonexistent WMD in Iraq caused lack of faith in Gov and republican losses in 06 and to a less degree in 08
Its time to Stop the Republican (and democratic) WAR Machine
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:59amThis is a good time to remind all about the children of Beslan.
Beslan.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:38amIndeed…Remember the children of Beslan.
Report Post »NewLife56
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:50amIran, a nation of Cowards in control, Thugs.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:53amA nation held in bondage and yoked to an alien god not their own upon whose altar the blood of many has been spilled.
While not too fond of Persian culture, I would not be unhappy if they were able to reclaim their history and heritage that has been erased and replaced by Islam and Sharia.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:48amIt’s not just Iran. It’s all muslim Countries. The blaze hasn’t had the nerve to post bar-b-q’d Catholic pictures from Africa. I’d like to say that Iran is the worst of them, but they aren’t.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:08amDon’t forget Buddhist ice cream vendor beheaded by jihadists in Thailand. That’s right, even ice cream venders are not immune from muslims engaged in jihad.
And of course, who can ever forget when the muslims slaughtered an old nun Somalia.
Finally, the jihad slaughter of the children at Beslan should be enough to galvanize the entire non-muslim world.
As I and many other have pointed, the jihad proceeds at all times and at all levels and seeks ascendancy over the whole of planet Earth.
Enemies domestic: muslims engaged in jihad.
Report Post »conservativeblackman
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:46am@myheroisron I here you loud & clear on that. Does this not prove to all the hair brained liberals that Iran should never be allowed to have a nuclear bomb.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:09amMitt Romney is a communist.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:45am.
Report Post »I still think Adycknmyjaw looks like, Tarzan & Cheeta’s Love Child……..
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:56pmGood one!
Report Post »skiz
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:43amI am suprised there are any Christians left in iran. Get ready the mahdi cometh!
Report Post »I’m with @DECKLE the sooner the better!
mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:36amPersia (Iran) has always been a dangerous place for Christian missions. Before the muslims slaughtered them, the Zoroastrians were the dominate people and they were none too kind to proselytizing missions.
Indeed, if the Greeks were not victorious over the Persians, we might now be toiling under oriental despotism ourselves.
Persia has always been an enemy of The West.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:33amThey seem to be following America’s lead on this one. The all-out assault on Christianity is going full-bore these days in every corner of the planet.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:49amWell, converting to Christianity from being a Muslim is punishable with death. Obama (by the claims of childhood friends) is/was Muslim. If he “converted” to Christianity, why is there a death sentence on him? Can you say taquia?
Report Post »1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:02pm@Loriann12
That is a scary thought if you are right.
Report Post »Deckle
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:13amI am really looking forward to the return of Jesus and his judgement on the likes of Ahmadinejad. It will be brutal and highly effective!
Report Post »MYHEROISRON
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:27am… And again we have another obvious reason why the immigration of muslims into America MUST be stopped! Those muslims that are already here must be repatriated back to their countries of origin!
The time for political correctness has passed! Islam is the enemy of all of us who are not muslim!!
Report Post »1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:03pmMe too!
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:10amAnother move in the Khilafah!
Report Post »holy ghostbuster
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:09amhttp://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
Report Post »Steve0218
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:39amWhy won’t he heal your sick mind?
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:45am@holyghost
You would do well to pick up a copy of “The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind” by Julian Jaynes. You are not using your brain correctly.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:56amYo Busted:
Actually a good question if indeed true. Do you know the “truthfull” answer ? I do not.
It does not do ONE thing to FACTUALLY disprove God, this I do know.
You can post it till you’re fingers fall off …you prove nothing!
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