Article18 is a non-profit organisation based in London, dedicated to the protection and promotion of religious freedom in Iran and advocating on behalf of its persecuted Christians.Our vision is to see the human rights and religious freedom of every citizen honoured in Iran. We believe that defending human rights is the responsibility of us all, and especially of Christians, who want to play a positive, transforming role in society. Our History 2008 - 2011Article18 was founded in 2008 as an independent effort by a number of Iranian Christians active in human rights. Since then, we at Article18 have been helping persecuted Iranian Christians by raising awareness and engaging in advocacy.2011 - 2017In 2011, Article18 came under the supervision of the Council of United Iranian Churches, better knows as the “Hamgaam Council”, comprised of a number of Iranian churches across Europe, which together form the largest coalition of Iranian churches outside Iran.2017 - PresentIn 2017, Article18 became an independent, non-governmental organisation (NGO) seeking to promote and increase awareness of the right to religious freedom among Iranians. Our References We are honoured to be endorsed by many individuals and organisations that share our vision and help us to defend and advance religious freedom Founder and Chief Executive of CSW A passionate advocate for the right to religious freedom. Mervyn Thomas CMG Researcher, Author, and Academic an expert on human rights, religious freedom, religion and violent conflicts, defence and security issues. Dr. Ziya Meral Founder and Director of PTC a theologian and author with many years of experience in training Iranian Christians Rev. Dr. Mehrdad Fatehi Theologican and Senior Lecturer a gifted international speaker and senior lecturer on Muslim-Christian relations. Rev. Dr. Sasan Tavassoli Hebrews 13:3 "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering" Article 18 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR-1966) Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions. Paragraph 13 of Lausanne Covenant (1974) “We pray for the leaders of the nations and call upon them to guarantee freedom of thought, conscience and religion in accordance with the Will of God and as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We also express our deep concern for all who have been unjustly imprisoned and especially for our brethren who are suffering for their testimony to the Lord Jesus.” Testimonials Reza Thank you "I want to say to Article18 and all who prayed for me and advocated for my release, thank you and may God bless you and remember you because you remembered me; you did just as Jesus said, as it is recorded in Matthew when He said, 'I was in prison and you came to me.' God rewarded those who visited and helped those who were in prison.” Zara Thank you "I am grateful to you for your efforts in prayers and pressure [on the authorities] in the time of our detention in Iran. " Homayoon Thank you "I have been following the work done by Article18 for several years. It is my opinion that the work done by Article18 is relevant, effective and brings both help and hope to those who suffer for the name of Jesus. I can highly recommend Article18 as an organisation that is serving God in a significant manner." Farhad Thank you “There are not words to express to the Lord the great blessing you brought to my family. Your presence was like bringing water to a thirsty person in a dry desert.” Press Room Contact Article18 for Interviews and Enquiries Article18 is your source for news on the persecution of Christians in Iran. We're constantly monitoring reports and can offer interviews and provide further details on incidents reported on this website. You can also find out more about the situation for Christians in Iran by clicking on the link to our Country Profile below. Country Profile Contact Us Partners We team up with other international specialists in the field of freedom of religion or belief to be a voice for justice. We campaign for religious freedom for all – however, due to limited resources, we prioritise working for Christians, of all denominations and traditions. Below are some partner organisations that we work with to advocate, train, and assist victims of religious persecution. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER Subscribe