Five Christians were arrested as they celebrated Christmas together on Christmas Eve at a “house church” in eastern Tehran.

Ahmad Bazyar, Faegheh Nasrollahi, Mastaneh Rastegari, Amir Hossein Nematollahi were arrested at the home of a man only identified as an engineer named Mr Hosseini, who was also arrested.

Armed plainclothes agents insulted and searched the Christians, and seized books, CDs, laptops and satellite-television equipment.  

The agents also searched the home of one of Mr Hosseini’s neighbours, who had witnessed the raid, and insulted and beat him, then threatened his family not to tell anyone about it.

There has been no news of the Christians since their arrest.

Every year at Christmas, the Iranian security forces crack down on Christians with harassment, threats and arrests.