Source: www.persecution.org
Date: December 6, 2022
Iran (International Christian Concern) – Iranian civilians and protestors are in the middle of a three day nationwide general strike after the government refused to comment on a claim made by a senior official about the abolition of the morality police.
Instead of giving information on the requested topic, Iranian newspapers doubled down on intimidation efforts and reported on “an increase in patrols, especially in religious cities, requiring women to wear the hijab, and shop managers being directed by the police to reinforce hijab restrictions. The confusion may be partly due to mixed messages being sent out by a divided regime as it seeks to quell the protests,” according to The Guardian News and Media outlet.
ICC report on the persecutor of the year award shows how much of these persecution and human rights issues stem from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that was initially created as the armed “protector of the revolution and consolidate the power of the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.” But eventually they became the powers at be who “heavily persecutes Christians, specifically Christian converts from Islam, by raiding house churches and arresting members for threatening national security.” But religious minorities such as MBB’s, other Christian sects, and much of the general population is showing that they will not allow the government to use fear tactics to make them forget about their needs for basic human rights. These strikes are showing the IRGC that they will no longer tolerate the brutality of the current regime.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for continued calls for improved human rights in Iran. Pray for protection for those involved in the protests. Pray for the Christian community in Iran to grow.