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An interview with Article18’s Fred Petrossian, following the publication of his new book, ‘Why Christian Converts flee Iran’.

Please can you give a short summary of what the book is about?

“This book examines why Christian converts in Iran are forced to flee their homeland. It also explores their resistance and creativity in the face of relentless hostility.

“The book investigates the various forms of violence, repression and systematic propaganda these individuals endure—whether physical, legal, structural, or cultural. 

“It covers everything from the murder of church leaders and confiscation of church properties, to laws targeting religious minorities, as well as discrimination embedded in education, religious discourse, and even urban planning.

“Drawing on personal testimonies, human rights reports, and in-depth research, the book exposes Iran’s religious apartheid, and documents the struggles, resilience, and defiance of persecuted minorities, particularly Christian converts, while also addressing broader repression against groups such as Bahá’ís and Yarsanis.

“Importantly, the book emphasises from the outset that Christianity is not a Western-imported religion in Iran. Christians have lived in Iran since the early days of the faith, and under the Sasanian Empire Iranian missionaries reached as far as China and India.”

What motivated you to write it?

“There were several motivations. For years, I have been asked by human rights activists, journalists, and asylum officials whether Christian converts from Iran are truly believers or simply seeking asylum. This book emerged in response to those repeated questions.”

“It also stems from my personal investigations, years of reporting, and long-standing engagement with Iranian human rights issues. I wanted to give voice to those whose stories are so often dismissed or distorted.

“By sharing our stories—both the discrimination and repression we face, and also our achievements—we Iranians can break many prejudices and strengthen our national unity.

“As an African proverb wisely says: ‘Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.’ This book seeks to give the ‘lions’—the persecuted minorities—the chance to tell their own stories.”

What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

“I hope readers will realise that this is not merely a story of victimhood or repression. It is also a story of courage, resilience, and creativity. Iranian Christian converts—and other minorities—are not simply fleeing to survive; they are also resisting injustice and defending their dignity and rights.”

“I want readers to understand both the depth of persecution and the extraordinary hope and strength shown by these communities. Most importantly, this book calls for respect for religious freedom or belief as a fundamental human right, beyond politics, ideology, or national borders.

“To conclude, I would like to recall the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu: ‘I don’t want crumbs from anyone’s table. I want my full rights, not bits thrown by those who think they are my masters.’”

“This book carries that very message: it is not about asking for pity or charity, but about demanding full rights, dignity, and freedom.”

“It is important to highlight that many Christian converts continue to suffer across the world—from Turkey to Sweden, and from Georgia to Indonesia—as their asylum claims are repeatedly denied, leaving them trapped in a state of limbo, like a modern-day purgatory.”

‘Why Christian converts flee Iran’ is available to purchase here.

An Iranian pastor in California has called for the United States to “open the doors” to refugees after several of his church members – all asylum-seekers – were detained.

Ara Torosian, an Iranian-American who himself arrived to the US as a refugee in 2010 after being arrested for bringing Bibles into Iran, has made headlines in recent days after posting footage online showing the arrest of one couple from his church.

The shocking video shows a woman, whose first name is Marjan, having a panic attack as her husband, Reza, is led away by agents of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unit.

Pastor Torosian, speaking with World Relief yesterday, said he was very “emotional” as he filmed the arrest, and that it “triggered” memories for him of his own mistreatment at the hands of the Iranian authorities.

And the pastor, who leads the Cornerstone Church of West Los Angeles, said he wanted to see the US “open the doors for people to be able to come legally”.

Pastor Torosian explained that for “many months” his church had explored the Welcome Corps programme to see if there was a way in which Iranian Christian refugees may be able to arrive legally in the US, but that “suddenly they said, ‘Sorry, we don’t accept any Iranians to come.’” 

The pastor said that having arrived himself through the Lautenberg Program, he was sad the programme was now suspended and called on US lawmakers to “show me any legal way for Iranian refugees to enter this country”.

“There is no other way,” Pastor Torosian said, than arriving at the border and waiting to be processed, as his detained church members did. “I’m asking them to open one way, a merciful way – for them to apply the law, but with mercy.”

The pastor added that he could understand why illegal immigrants who had committed crimes might be detained, but said that this was not the case for his church members and that he could not understand why they had been taken away ahead of their scheduled asylum hearings in September.

The pastor added that lawyers who had previously agreed to represent his church members had stepped back from the case as a result of the publicity it had received.

A new book by Article18’s Fred Petrossian seeks to explain why many Iranian Christian converts end up as refugees and asylum-seekers in the West.

The book, ‘Why Christian Converts Flee Iran’, “tells a story that spans 46 years of suffering and resistance,” the author explains, “while also tracing the deep historical roots of Christianity in Iran—going back to the early Church”. 

“Under the Sasanian Empire, Iranian missionaries even reached as far as China and India. Today, Iranian Christian converts represent a new and fast-growing minority.

“But this book isn’t limited to the experience of Christian converts. It also highlights the struggles and resilience of other persecuted minorities, including the Baháʼís and Yarsanis, whose voices are often silenced.”

Mr Petrossian explains that the book “explores not only the triple violence (physical, structural, and cultural) faced by Christian converts, but also the broader landscape of religious repression—and the creative resistance of minorities”.

“This is not just a story of repression,” he adds. “It is a story of hope, defiance, and faith under pressure. 

“We, as Iranians, have the power to rewrite a future that feels doomed—and to defeat tyranny together.”

‘Why Christian converts flee Iran’ is available to purchase here.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has rejected the vast majority of substantive recommendations made by UN member states at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, including regarding its treatment of religious minorities.

Of the 346 recommendations made in its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Islamic Republic rejected 186, accepted 142 and “noted” a further 18.

And of the recommendations pertaining to the rights of religious minorities, the only recommendations that were accepted were the four that referenced broad “protection” of minority rights and two others that referred to the promotion of “tolerance” between religions. Another recommendation to “combat the spread of negative stereotypes against minority groups” was noted.

However, 26 recommendations relating directly to the treatment of minorities including Christians – and most highlighting the discrimination and persecution they experience – were rejected.

These recommendations included calls to provide all Iranians with freedom of religion or belief (FoRB); the rights to peaceful assembly and association; freedom of worship and expression; and to officially recognise all religious minorities – and not only Jews, Zoroastrians and Christians of Armenian and Assyrian ethnicity. (A list of these recommendations and the countries that made them can be found at the bottom of this article.)

The Islamic Republic’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, claimed yesterday at the presentation of Iran’s response to the recommendations that “all Iranian citizens enjoy civil, political and social rights without discrimination”, while “recognised religious minorities enjoy the freedom to practise their own religion and enjoy their own cultural and religious institutions”. 

In its official written response to the recommendations, the Islamic Republic said it had rejected recommendations “due to their manifest contradiction with existing laws or their reliance upon unfounded allegations and inappropriate language”.

It added that “freedom of worship and expression is … guaranteed in Articles 23, 24 and 26 of the Constitution”, while “followers of religious minorities are free to hold their religious and worship ceremonies”.

“About 300 churches, 16 synagogues and 78 Zoroastrian places of worship freely practice their religious duties in different parts of Iran,” the document added.

In January, Dr Khataza Gondwe of CSW noted at a joint side-event with Article18 held ahead of Iran’s UPR that while “the number of churches may be a reasonable approximation, not all were ‘operating without hinderance’”.

“Most of the 300-odd churches predate the 1979 Revolution,” she said. “It would have been more accurate if the Iranian authorities had also divulged how many of the churches are still able to function as worship centres. In addition, knowing how many of these churches were constructed after the Islamic Republic was established would serve as an important indicator of the situation of freedom of religion or belief in the country.”

The Islamic Republic also stated in its written response that 40 churches had been “reconstructed and renovated with the financial support of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, and 57 organizations and associations related to religious minorities pursue the religious issues of minorities and receive annual financial support from the government”.

A similar statement was made by the Assyrian MP who attended Iran’s UPR in January, Sharli Envieh, but no mention was made about the many church buildings that have been forcibly closed or repurposed, including the home of the former Anglican bishop of Iran and church of the murdered head of the Assemblies of God denomination in Iran. (You can read more about Article18’s side event in January and comparisons to the Islamic Republic’s own event here.)

Of the countries that were able to provide a verbal response yesterday, the representatives of Belgium and Albania both expressed regret that their recommendations – both of which called for an end to discrimination on religious grounds in Iran – had not been accepted.

Meanwhile, the representative of Minority Rights Group noted that Iran had rejected 85% of recommendations related to the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, saying: “Iran’s response to the UPR demonstrates a lack of acknowledgement that many of the issues of concern raised by states even exist … [including] torture in detention [and] discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities. 

“Iran flatly denies all of these well-documented pattern of violations. Denial of the mere existence of these problems constitute in itself an obstacle to accountability.”

The representative of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, meanwhile, noted that while Iran claimed to “recognise the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly”, it had “rejected 13 of 16 recommendations on freedom of expression, 11 of recommendations on freedom of assembly, and three of four recommendations on freedom of association”.

Recommendations related to religious minorities

Accepted

38.149 Continue initiatives in promoting dialogue, cooperation and tolerance between different cultures and religions (Armenia);

38.159 Continue to strengthen efforts in promoting religious tolerance to foster peaceful coexistence and social harmony (Sierra Leone);

38.56 Continue to strengthen normative and institutional human rights frameworks in line with international human rights obligations, especially as regards women, children, persons with disabilities and minority groups (Philippines);

38.296 Continue implementing its national policy particularly with regard to the social protection programmes that support women, children and minority rights (Cambodia);

38.332 Continue strengthening the protection and promotion of minority rights by ensuring their full and equal participation in all aspects of political, social and administrative life (Ethiopia);

38.334 Redouble efforts to promote and protect the rights of minorities (Japan).

Noted

38.333 Intensify efforts to combat the spread of negative stereotypes against minority groups and non-citizens (Congo);

Rejected

38.74 End all forms of discrimination and persecution on the basis of persons’ religion or belief (Greece);

38.75 Eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination on an ethnic or religious basis (France);

38.76 Review and repeal legislation and policies that discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief, sexual orientation and gender identity (New Zealand);

38.104 End the execution of death sentences and abolish the death penalty entirely, especially for political and religious offences and non-violent crimes such as drug offences and, most eminently, for minors (Germany);

38.157 Adjust national legislation, in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in order to ensure the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons regardless of religion and ethnicity (Ukraine);

38.153 Ensure freedom of worship and expression, respecting fundamental rights, and repeal provisions that violate them (Argentina);

38.324  End discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities (Germany);

38.325  Take measures necessary to combat discrimination against members of all ethnic or religious minorities and address the structural socioeconomic inequalities suffered by provinces inhabited mainly by these minorities (Switzerland);

38.328 End discrimination against all religious, ethnic and sexual minorities (Czechia);

38.329 Prohibit any form of discrimination and marginalization of ethnic and/or religious minorities and ensure their social inclusion and protection against all forms of violence (Mexico);

38.330 Ensure that the rights of all minorities in social and religious life are fully protected (Malta);

38.158 Bring the Iranian Constitution in line with international human rights law and ensure that all religious minorities, including the Baha’i, are recognized and can fully enjoy the right to freedom of religion or belief (Austria);

38.315 End the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, including Baha’i, Kurds, Ahwazi, Baloch and Turkmen (Luxembourg);

38.261 Abolish all laws, regulations and procedures that discriminate directly against all women and girls, especially towards Baha’i women who are arbitrarily arrested and detained and ensure their protection from further harassment (North Macedonia);

38.318 Adopt concrete measures to eliminate discrimination and enhance the protection of the human rights of the Baha’is and other minority communities in the country (Marshall Islands);

38.317 Guarantee religious freedom and freedom of conscience for minorities such as the Baha’i community, taking concrete measures to eliminate discrimination and improve their protection (Spain);

38.320 End persecution and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, including Baha’is (Albania);

38.321 Take the necessary measures to guarantee equal rights for all citizens and counter the discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, with particular regard to Baha’is (Italy);

38.322 End discrimination on any grounds, including against religious minorities such as the Baha’is (Estonia);

38.323 Ensure respect of the rights of religious minorities by ceasing all forms of discrimination and persecution of Baha’i and other religious communities (Lithuania);

38.319 Eliminate all forms of discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, including Baha’is, Christians and Ahwazi Arabs, and ensure respect for their religious freedoms and cultural rights (Costa Rica);

38.326 Ensure that the constitutional and legislative order guarantees the enjoyment of all human rights on an equal basis to all religious minorities, including Baha’is, Christians, Jews and Muslims of every denomination on an equal basis (Belgium);

38.327 Repeal all laws and practices that discriminate against ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha’is, Ahwazi Arabs, Balochis, Kurds and Sunni Muslims, among others (Canada);

38.316 End the persecution of minorities and ensure equal access to education, employment and social services (Israel);

38.162 Revise existing legislation to ensure that it does not unduly restrict the exercise of freedom of assembly and expression in ways that are incompatible with international human rights law, especially by minority groups and journalists (Ghana);

38.77 Abolish discriminatory legal provisions against minorities and women and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Norway); 

An Iranian Christian alliance formed earlier this year has published its founding declaration, outlining core principles including to “represent and defend the rights of Iranian Christians”, “promote justice, freedom, equality, and human dignity”, and “continuously support the right to religious freedom of Iranian Christians”.

The World Iranian Christian Alliance, which includes Article18 director Mansour Borji among its board members, published the declaration on its website today, two months after its formation following a gathering of nearly 200 Iranian Christian leaders in the UK in April.

The declaration, which can be read in full below, says the alliance, which includes representatives from a range of denominations, churches and organisations from around the world, was formed in recognition of “the urgent need for solidarity, enhanced cooperation, and a unified voice among Iranian Christian communities”.

Founding declaration of the World Iranian Christian Alliance

“We, the members of the Executive Board of the World Iranian Christian Alliance, hereby officially declare the establishment of this international, non-governmental, and voluntary body, based on the provisions of its Constitution and the official vote of the Founding Assembly on April 4, 2025. 

At a gathering held on the above-mentioned date in the United Kingdom, more than 180 leaders of the Iranian Christian community from around the world—recognising the urgent need for solidarity, enhanced cooperation, and a unified voice among Iranian Christian communities—came together and resolved to establish this Alliance, grounded in the teachings of the Holy Bible and the principles of Christian orthodoxy and orthopraxy.

The World Iranian Christian Alliance, as an international confederation composed of churches, organisations, and individual Iranian Christians, has commenced its work with shared objectives such as enhancing cooperation and synergy, representing and defending the rights of Iranian Christians, promoting justice, freedom, equality, and human dignity, and upholding sound Christian teachings within the framework of members’ shared values.

With its main headquarters in London, United Kingdom, and the capacity to establish regional offices in other parts of the world, the Alliance is committed to the following principles:

1. Full adherence to the teachings and values of the Christian faith;
2. Respect for the independence and diversity of member institutions, and operation on the basis of voluntary, non-binding participation;
3. Effective and continuous support for the right to religious freedom of Iranian Christians at national, regional, and international levels;
4. Strengthening cooperation and constructive dialogue among Iranian churches and Christian institutions nationally and globally;
5. Playing an active role in fulfilling the mission of the Church in effective service to surrounding communities.

The organisational structure of the Alliance includes a Congress as the supreme decision-making authority, an Executive Board, and Specialised Commissions as operational arms. All activities will be conducted in accordance with the ratified constitution, with full transparency and accountability.

This statement constitutes the official announcement of the establishment and commencement of operations of the World Iranian Christian Alliance, and is effective and applicable to all relevant institutions, partners, and stakeholders as of the date of issuance.

With hope for a bright future and fruitful cooperation in service to Christ, the Church, and society.”

– Executive Board, World Iranian Christian Alliance