No Muslims were arrested in the U.S. for practicing their faith. Nor should they be, of course. The U.S. upholds the principle of innocent until proven guilty, at least so far. But from all one hears about “Islamophobia” as compared to all one hears about Muslim persecution of Christians, one would get the impression that the persecution of Muslims is much more common. Reality is, as always when it comes to establishment media propaganda, otherwise.
“Christians in Iran Are Arrested for Practicing Faith, Charity Says,” by Natasha Phillips, Kayhan Life, February 18, 2021:
At least 115 Christians were arrested last year for practicing their faith in Iran, according to a report by Article 18, a London-based nonprofit that promotes freedom of religion in the country.
There are approximately 800,000 Christians in Iran, of which 130,000 are ethnic Armenian and Assyrian Christians, and the remaining 670,000 converts from Islam. The Iranian government considers Christians who have converted from Islam to be apostates, a form of religious abandonment which is a criminal offense under Iran’s law.
The annual report published on Feb. 1 by Article 18, “Rights Violations Against Christians In Iran,” held that the majority of Christians arrested were converts from Islam. Accounts of Christians and Christian converts being threatened with detention for practicing their religion in group settings are also outlined in the report.
The report details the ongoing persecution of Christians by Iran’s government, including the confiscation of Bibles, damage to Christian cemeteries and the demolition of churches.
Mansour Borji, a spokesperson for Article 18, told Kayhan Life that Christians in Iran were increasingly being detained.
“Arrests against Christians are going up every year because of the growth of the church, but also because the Iranian government is developing new methods of surveillance, particularly online, which we think explains why so many more people in Iran are now being arrested,” Borji said.
A February 2020 briefing by the UK Home Office on Iran’s Christians and Christian converts said that while the number of arrests of Christians was still relatively low in Iran, the Iranian government appeared to be focusing on senior members of its Christian communities to constrain worship.
The policy note said: “The evidence suggests that the Iranian authorities appear to target the leaders and organizers of house churches [Christian congregations who gather in private homes to worship] rather than ‘ordinary’ converts (i.e., those who are not active evangelizers). This suggests that the Iranian authorities are primarily concerned with stopping the spread of Christianity and do not have the resources to monitor all Christian converts.”
Speaking to Kayhan Life, Mary Mohammadi, who converted to Christianity as a teenager in Iran, said she was arrested by security officials on Jan. 12, 2020 in Tehran’s Azadi Square while taking part in a peaceful protest after the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.
The Jan. 8 plane crash, caused by a missile fired by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards hitting the passenger jet and killing all passengers on board, led to widespread anti-government demonstrations in Iran.
“It was around 10 p.m., and the riot police had scattered people, but they were still present in small groups. I was standing alone and doing nothing when I was attacked from behind without warning. I was then badly beaten by the officers while they made sexual threats,” Mary said. “I was then brought in for questioning, but the police were unable to find any evidence with which to press charges, until an officer was made aware of my conversion to Christianity. Then they contacted the prosecutor’s office and shared this information. After that, the prosecutor’s office decided to open a case.”
Mary was transferred to Qarchak prison, Iran’s largest jail for women. The prison has been highlighted by human rights organizations for its hostile environment, and they have cited regular assaults on female inmates, lack of sanitation and the use of torture.
While in Qarchak’s Vozara detention center, Mary said she was given no food or water for 24 hours, despite being injured from the physical assaults she had sustained during her arrest and from the exposure to tear and pepper gas. She was also forced to take off her clothes and perform sit-ups naked while prison officers watched.
“The guards threatened to rip all my clothes off and do other things with my body if I refused to undress myself. I was also forced to sit outside in the detention yard for a long time, in extremely cold weather. They kept harassing me late into the night until I could not stand on my feet or keep my eyes open anymore,” Mary said.
Mary was sentenced to three months and one day in prison, and 10 lashes. Her sentence was suspended for one year, but could be reinstated pending a review of her conduct.
The 22-year-old has already served a six-month jail sentence for her participation in house churches, for which she was charged with “actions against national security” and “propaganda against the system.” She was also arrested for ‘improper’ wearing of her hijab in July after going to the police to report an assault, though the charges were later dropped.
On Jan. 18, Mary said, she was arrested again by security officials who said her trousers were too tight, her coat was unbuttoned and her hijab improperly adjusted. She was released with a caution….
Walter Sieruk says
First, it would be naive not to understand the those mullahs and ayatollahs didn’t have a hand in having their stooges , who are Islamic state police, the Revolutionary Guards arrest so many Christians because those in power in the Islamic tyranny are ruthless and cruel.
Second, this is further proof that Islam is such a weak and fragile religion that the arrest of those few Christians was felt necessary by the ayatollah, mullah and imams of Iran. For those Muslim clerics are afraid that if the Iranian people even have a chance to examine and thus compare and contrast the Bible and the Quran the people of Iran might discover that the Bible of the super of those two books.
Since the foundation for the tyrannical regime of the Islamic “Republic” of Iran is based on the Quran, which is also the entire foundation for of Islam, the Muslim clerics fear that their power base might collapse. So the arrests and sentencing to death of Christians reveals extreme fear those Muslim clerics have of the Bible, For this also show that those Muslim clerics in power in that “mullahs regime” of Iran will use .the Islamic state police and their tools to stop Christians and keep the Iranian people in in ignorance of the Bible and in the darkness of Islam.
Third, those mullahs and ayatollahs and imams of Iran with their falsehoods and deceptions of the many false doctrines of Islam in which they brainwash the Iranian people in believing is something that is both sad and tragic. Those ayatollahs and mullahs are, no doubt, just as deluded as the people who they thoroughly indoctrinate with false teachings of Islam. Of such demonic deception by false teachers who are also deluded such men a have been predicted in the Bible. For in the Bible it’s written that “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived.” Second Timothy 3:13. [K.J.V.]
All those mullahs and ayatollahs are, according to the doctrines of the Bible, Isaiah 8:20. false religious teachers .Meaning false teachers who teach and indoctrinate the false doctrines of the false religion of Islam into the hearts and minds of others . Such false teachers are described in the Bible ,in Second Peter 2:1. “There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
In addition, it should be make clear that in the context and meaning of the above Bible verse Second Peter 2:1. The word “destruction” does not mean “loss of being but loss of well-being ,as the destruction of well- being . That is “going to ruin” by ending up and a terrible place of awful suffering which the Bible call hell, Luke 16:19-31.
Eur says
Even in Morocco (a country that is given as an example of a moderate Muslim country) converts to Christianity meet secretly in private apartments They cannot go to churches because it is forbidden to abandon Islam and officially they will continue to be Muslims forever. , they are at risk of losing their jobs and of course the social environment is hostile towards them. They cannot give their children Christian names, they can even lose custody if the couple denounces the case since the judge will always give custody to the Muslim part. Of course, the hundreds of thousands of Moroccans (millions) who live in Europe demand rights and demand to receive Islam classes in schools, be able to build minarets, they proselytize without limit, they demand halal menus ….. they do not understand what it is reciprocity, only conquest.
gravenimage says
All true. This persecution is not just happening in Iran. It is orthodox Islam.
gravenimage says
Islamic Republic of Iran arrested at least 115 Christians last year for practicing their faith
…………..
Terrible.
And these are the vicious thugs Biden wants to appease.
fawlty says
“At least 115 Christians were arrested last year for practicing their faith in Iran, according to a report by Article 18, a London-based nonprofit that promotes freedom of religion in the country…”
……………………………………………………….
BBC – ‘Question Time’
Some interesting views there from Muhammad in the audience. Now back to the panel. Aynaz Anni Cyrus. Anni, your thoughts on the matter…
John Forbes says
The WEST will no longer stand up for Christians anywhere. Even the ISLAMIC POPE does not stand with Christians in the Middle East, or Africa. It in the WEST is Christianity OUT & ISLAM – IN! Complete with “blasphemy laws & sharia soon” Certainy very true in Canada!
underbed cat says
It seems it has started in America, the demands that the left and tolerant uninformed christians silenced and decieved and leftist leader bends to allow, for the Muslim arrogance of entitlements and the use of deceptive fibs towards conquest. No reciprocity for other religions in massive sharia lands, and the propaganda is well on it’s way to control if the information of their methods and eventually jihad is not recognized and displaced. Your description Eur is exactly what I have seen in the news…..bit bit allowing are Pel-Shuc-Bi style power grab promotion.
ronyvo says
“No Muslims were arrested in the U.S. for practicing their faith. Nor should they be, of course. The U.S. upholds the principle of innocent until proven guilty”.
Why not??? Muslims are criminals by faith:
“I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them. It is not ye who slew them; it was God.” Surah 8:13-17.
“Fight against those who believe not in Allah nor the last day nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and his messenger and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth among the people of the scripture, until they pay jiziah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” Surah 9:29
“Fight them, until there is no persecution and the religion is God’s” Surah 193
“O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them is on of them.” Surah 5:51 & 3:28
“Kill the mushrikeen (polytheists, Christians and non-Muslims), wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush”. Surah 9:5
“O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you; and know that Allah is with those who are believers.” Surah 9:123
“And fight them until there is no more fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every king of) worship is for Allah (alone).” Surah 2:193
“Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the paradise. They fight in Allah cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Koran.” Surah 9:111
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him” Surah 3:85
“O prophet, urge the believers to fight.” Surah 8:65
“The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and his messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world and a great torment is theirs in the hereafter.” Surah 5:33
What else do we need to be convinced that they are here to kill, rape and destroy the INFIDELS, that is you and me????
They commit their crimes against humanity all over the world and they will not stop until the ISLAMISATION of our countries is completed. Look at the ME.
Innocent until proven guilty?? Well, they are guilty BY FAITH AND ACT.
I am very surprised, Mr. Spencer that YOU wrote such thing.
Clifford Fodor says
“No Muslims were arrested in the U.S. for practicing their faith. Nor should they be, of course. The U.S. upholds the principle of innocent until proven guilty, at least so far. But from all one hears about “Islamophobia” as compared to all one hears about Muslim persecution of Christians, one would get the impression that the persecution of Muslims is much more common. Reality is, as always when it comes to establishment media propaganda, otherwise.”
Muslims should be persecuted in America because they are not innocent. They are like Nazis who want to conquer the world. The USA is their number one target. We need to intern all Muslims as we (should not) have done to Japanese Americans during World War II. Muslims are responsible for the 9/11 attacks and other terrorist attacks at Ft. Hood and San Bernardino CA. They want Islam to be taught in our public schools. I can’t believe we elected Joe Biden who wants to fill the government with more Muslims. They are using our Constitution and all our institutions to destroy us.