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Christian Converts Beaten and Arrested During Iranian House Church Raid

  • Amanda Casanova

    Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and…

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  • Updated Aug 19, 2015

Iranian officials beat and arrested at least eight Christian converts during worship at a house church in Karaj.

According to the Christian Post, officers raided the church, beat up the worshippers and confiscated their Bibles.

It is unclear where the Christians were taken, but three of them were reportedly released on bail. About eight are still missing.

BosNewLife reported that the officials also searched the Christians’ homes without the proper legal paperwork.

Esmaeel Falahati, 35, has been identified as one of the Christians who was arrested. Authorities searched his home and confiscated his computer, DVDs and Bibles.

"There is no information on their whereabouts or their physical condition, but an unofficial source has indicated that the detainees have been taken to the headquarters of the Ministry of Information," the Iranian Mohabat News article said.

Many house churches have been raided in the past few months. There are reportedly some 360,000 Christians in the country.

"Today, the Middle East is facing a watershed moment," Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the Iranian Resistance, said in a July statement. "Moderate forces striving for human rights must be supported and faith community leaders can contribute a great deal toward the establishment of a free Iran, where human rights are respected."

Publication date: August 19, 2015