While the world’s eyes were on tensions between Iran and the USA at the beginning of the year, the Iranian regime continued cracking down on Christians.
A pastor and eight other believers were sentenced to a combined total of 45 years in prison by Iran’s Revolutionary Court at the end of 2019. They were all converts from Islam.
Bail was increased tenfold for converts who requested a lawyer
According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Pastor Matthias Haghnejad has been arrested several times since 2006, and Iran Human Rights Monitor reports that bail was increased tenfold for five of the converts who requested a lawyer.
Christians in the Islamic nation face arrest if they merely attend a house church service or possess a Bible.