Iran uses Christians as scapegoats amid growing repression

A coalition of human rights organizations has released a report that the Iranian government is increasingly using Christians as scapegoats amid a crackdown on protests and the aftermath of last year’s “12-day war” with Israel. The report, titled Scapegoats, documents a significant increase in the arrest and imprisonment of Christians, and points to a violent crackdown on broader anti-government demonstrations.

According to Christian Today, citing this report, the number of Christians arrested for their religious beliefs or activities nearly doubled last year, rising from 139 to 254. A similar trend is seen in the number of Christians imprisoned, exiled or subjected to forced labor, which rose from 25 to 57. Particular attention is paid to converts from Islam, who are at higher risk.

The Scapegoats report is a collaboration between Article 18, Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and Middle East Concern. It also talks about the protests that began in Iran late last year. The protests were initially initiated by bazaris (shopkeepers) loyal to the regime because of economic problems. The government made concessions such as wage increases and tax cuts. However, when isolated anti-government demonstrations against the government itself began, the regime violently suppressed them, reportedly resulting in thousands of deaths.

In response to these events, the British government imposed sanctions on a number of Iranians involved in the crackdown, which was praised by CSW. The Scapegoats report states, “The response to these protests has been horrific, with thousands of deaths reported, including several Christians, and every Iranian – regardless of their religious affiliation – affected.” It is further noted: “The road ahead for Iran looks far from clear, but as we publish this latest annual report on rights violations committed against Christians over the past year, we stand with the people of Iran in their call for leaders who will act in their best interests rather than repress them.”

The document emphasizes that for 47 years, the Iranian people have been subjected to a regime that not only consistently fails to respect the human rights of its citizens, but also brutally suppresses dissenting voices, opinions, or beliefs. According to Open Doors, Iran currently has the 10th highest rate of persecution of Christians in the world, with converts from Islam particularly vulnerable.

Note that according to the annual report of the non-governmental organization Portes Ouvertes (Open Doors), in 2025, more than 388 million Christians worldwide will face serious persecution or discrimination because of their faith.