One of the most important rights we enjoy in the United States is the freedom to practice our faith. Sadly, this is not a reality for hundreds of millions around the world. As evangelical Christians, we believe this right is not merely granted by governments but is given by God. It should transcend borders, which is why evangelical Americans should care deeply about Iran and support its secular democratic opposition.
On its World Watch List 2025, Open Doors International ranked the Islamic Republic of Iran as the ninth worst country for Christian persecution. Global Christian Relief also placed Iran in the same position.
While Iran’s theocracy nominally recognizes the rights of Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, public expressions of faith are routinely suppressed through both official and unofficial means.
This repression has persisted since the 1979 revolution, which brought hard-line cleric Ruhollah Khomeini to power as Iran’s first supreme leader. His authority was absolute, and in 1988, nearing the end of his life, he issued a fatwa declaring organized opposition to the theocracy as “enmity against God,” a crime punishable by death.
This edict led to the formation of “death commissions” across Iran thatinterrogated political prisoners and executed those deemed “steadfast in their beliefs” after sham trials lasting mere minutes.
Though Christians were not the direct targets of the 1988 massacre, the regime sought to eliminate any group that could challenge its theocratic rule and promote a democratic alternative with religious freedom. An estimated 30,000 victims were killed, with around 90% believed to be members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, the country’s leading pro-democracy opposition group.
While the organization’s membership has historically been Muslim, its political coalition—the National Council of Resistance of Iran—explicitly advocates for the separation of religion from state and a transition to popular sovereignty and the rule of law.
In his final report in July 2024, U.N. Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman described the 1988 massacre as a series of “atrocity crimes,” even suggesting it could be classified as genocide. This history has gained renewed relevance as the Iranian regime intensifies its crackdown on dissent.
On July 27, two People’s Mojahedin Organization members were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison under the same charge of “enmity against God.” Five more members were recently transferred to the same prison, indicating their executions may be imminent. Many others remain on death row for politically motivated charges.
Advocates warn this pattern may signal plans for another large-scale massacre, as the regime struggles with internal unrest and the aftermath of its recent 12-day war with Israel.
On Sept. 6, Iranians from across Europe, joined by dignitaries from Europe and the United States, will gather in Brussels to call for an end to executions in Iran and urge the international community to prioritize human rights in its dealings with the regime.
Christians worldwide should be aware of the violent repression in Iran—not only because it is our moral duty to speak out against tyranny, but also because the regime has specifically targeted Christian converts and religious leaders as part of its broader effort to suppress dissent. Supporting the National Council of Resistance of Iran and the Iranian Resistance is not just a political stance—it is a defense of religious liberty and democratic values.
Maryam Rajavi, the council’s designated transitional president, has outlined a 10-point plan for Iran’s future. It includes free and fair elections, legal protections for religious and ethnic minorities, gender equality, and the separation of religion from government. This vision stands in stark contrast to the regime’s institutional misogyny and religious intolerance.
Rajavi’s platform has resonated with Iranians from diverse backgrounds and has helped expand a network of People’s Mojahedin Organization-affiliated “Resistance Units” that are actively organizing mass protests and pushing for a new revolution. Their activism has made them targets of state persecution, but it also reflects the growing momentum for change.
For evangelicals, the stakes are clear. Theocratic regimes like Iran’s not only threaten their own citizens but also undermine the universal values we hold dear. The right to worship freely, to live without fear of persecution, and to participate in a democratic society are rights that should be protected everywhere. By supporting the Iranian Resistance, we stand with those fighting for these rights.
Christians should urge their governments and international institutions to recognize the Iranian people’s right to resist violent repression and to pursue a secular, democratic future. With the Resistance gaining traction and the regime increasingly isolated, global advocacy could help secure long-denied freedoms for Iranian Christians—and for all Iranians, regardless of faith.
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