Iran arrests 100 Christians ahead of Christmas

CHRISTIAN TODAY/  Lucinda Borkett-Jones 

More than 100 Iranian Christians were arrested last week in another sign of increasing pressure on Iran’s believers.

According to Open Doors, most were allowed to return home after a few hours but were told to expect a call from the Ministry of Intelligence. All of them had their mobile phones confiscated.

People who were suspected to be the leaders of the groups of Christians were held in detention.

Open Doors UK’s head of advocacy, Zoe Smith, said long prison sentences have been given to Christians who refused to leave Iran after their previous arrests. However, long prison terms are now becoming common for Christians who have been arrested for the first time.  Continue reading…