Persecution in Iran: at least 19 Christians killed in protests against the ayatollahs’ regime

At least 19 Christians have been killed in the crackdown on recent anti-government protests in Iran, according to Article 18, an organization dedicated to defending religious freedom in the country. The organization reported on February 9 that “the total number of Christians confirmed as killed during the protests is at least 19,” including members of officially recognized communities, Armenians and Assyrians, as well as converts to Christianity.

Among the victims are Nader Mohammadi, 35, a father of three, who was killed on January 8 in the northern city of Babol, and Zahra Arjomandi, 51, a mother of two, who died the same day on Qeshm Island in the south of the country. Both were killed by security forces during protests held in different parts of Iran.

The deaths occurred in the context of a wave of demonstrations that began in early January and has been met with a severe crackdown. Various human rights organizations place the total number of deaths in the thousands. The NGO Iran Human Rights recently raised the figure to more than 3,400 dead, in addition to thousands detained. For its part, Iranian state media acknowledged more than 3,100 deaths during the unrest.

Article 18 reports emphasize that the repression has not discriminated between religious minorities and the rest of the mobilized population. The protests, which have spread to numerous cities, have been marked by internet shutdowns, mass arrests, and a large deployment of security forces, in a climate of escalating political and social tension.