Christians who have converted to Islam are most vulnerable to persecution and discrimination.  

Government control is highest in urban areas while rural areas are less monitored – though in these areas, social control is likely to be higher. 

Sanaz* from Iran had an unusual path to finding Jesus. At first, she simply pretended to be a Christian. She’d heard that Iranian Christians were granted asylum in other countries, and she was desperate to leave after two failed marriages, drug abuse and no hope for her future. She decided to pretend to be a Christian – but God had other plans. 

“I encountered Jesus in a dream one night,” Sanaz says. “It was an amazing encounter. He talked to me and asked me to stay in Iran, because He had plans for me here.”

It wasn’t long before Sanaz chose to commit her life to Jesus – this time for real! “When I felt God’s love as a Heavenly Father, it really filled my empty heart,” she shares. “Jesus transformed my life; He gave me life!” 

And what was Jesus’s plan for Sanaz in Iran? To help transform other people’s lives, too. She had leadership training from Open Doors partners, and now serves 100 families with monthly food packages, as well as providing clothes, educational materials for children, and supporting women caught in drug addiction. “Jesus changed my life, and I witnessed and still witness how he changes people!” she says, with delight. 

Her ministry comes with a cost. Once, a group of boys attacked her with stones. Another time, the father of someone she was helping beat her up. “He said he will never let his family receive any help from infidels like me,” she says. But Sanaz stays faithful, counting the cost and persevering. 

“Please pray that God would bring more workers to the field as many are thirsty for the truth,” she says. “Pray that God would continue protecting me and all the sisters and brothers who are serving inside and outside our church as they face rejection and persecution yet continue fearlessly.” 

Saghar managed to escape the secret police, who wanted to arrest her for leading a house church. Here’s her astonishing story of courage and miracles .

Mojtaba from Iran was imprisoned for leading a house church. In this video, he shares how God used his imprisonment to help share the gospel with the least and the lost.

After four years’ imprisonment for ‘violating national security’, Iranian Christian Maryam Naghash Zargaran was released from Tehran’s Evin prison in August 2017. Open Doors held a worldwide letter-writing campaign for her during her time in prison; unfortunately, most of the letters were withheld from her. Now released, she is finally able to read your encouraging words!

Iran remains at number 9 on the World Watch List, and with the same persecution score as last year. 

The Iranian political landscape went through several significant upheavals during the past year. There continues to be significant domestic unrest due to the deaths of several young women. Iran’s ties with terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah led to ongoing tensions with Israel, including rocket attacks targeting Israel, and assassinations of Iranian, Hezbollah and Hamas leadership.  

The president of Iran died in a helicopter crash and was replaced by a candidate considered a reformer, with a less hardline view of religious minority. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely this will lead to significant change for Christians and other religious minorities.  

Despite all opposition, the church in Iran is growing and the gospel is spreading. 

Open Doors raises prayer support for the Christians in Iran.