Christian's in Iran are being persecuted, the wave of attacks may be traced back to the arrest of a Christian named Ghorban Dordi Tourani on November 22, 2005 who was stabbed to death by Iranian Morality Police that raided the church he belonged and arrested 10 other Christian converts.
The murdered body of 50 year old Christian Ghorban Dordi Tourani who was ministering in a home church in Gonbad-e-Kavus was found just outside his home after the Iranian Morality Police kidnapped him and authorities took away bibles and other religious symbols.
Conversion by a Muslim to Christianity is apostasy and is punishable by death.
The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) who met with Iranian President Ahmadinejad in NYC during his last visit to address the United Nations, were convinced that the Iranian President is their partner in peace and said, "above all that he (Ahmadinejad) is deeply religious...wants to cooperate with all Christians in all countries..." (Mennonite Life December, 2006)
Hamid Pourmand an Iranian military officer was sentenced to 3 years in prison by a military tribunal after his promotion to the rank of Colonel for deceiving the military by not declaring that he was a Christian convert 25 years before. Under Islamic law, it is illegal for a military officer to be a Christian.
In a new directive by the Iranian government, prayer scenes must now be included in all programs on Iranian state-run television, the directive ordered by President Ahmadinejad on the 07 May, 2007 "...television productions that do not have prayer scenes may not be aired...programming is to be interrupted for the broadcast of daily prayers, news readers invoke God before each bulletin and there must be frequent readings from the Quran..." (Iranian Labor News Agency)
Persecution of Christians in Iran include psychological torture, including threats of murdering of families in order for Christian Believers to recant their faith and return to Islam. (Iran Secret Terror--Todays Christian, March/April, 2007)
On April 23 the Iranian Supreme Court issued a ruling that people may be killed with impunity if they are deemed to be immoral. Some Christians have been beaten and buried alive by Iranian Morality Police.
"Faithful America" of the Natl. Council of the Churches of Christ, USA claim on its web site (following their trip to Iran with leaders from the MCC) "...our time in Iran convinced us that religious leaders from both countries can help pave the way for mutual respect..."
Iranian leaders no doubt are happy by the visits of these religious liberal wanna be peace-makers, that provide the Islamic fascist regime a level of legitimacy which is undeserving.
