Iran Seizes 6,500 Bibles to Stop 'Deceiving' Christian Missionaries
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Pastor Dale Morgan
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Aug 18, 2011, 5:14:05 PM8/18/11
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Faith
Under Fire....
Iran Seizes 6,500 Bibles to Stop 'Deceiving' Christian
Missionaries
By Fionna Agomuoh | Christian Post
Few details are known about the seizure, however, Christian news
agency, Mohabat News, reports that Dr. Majid Abhari, adviser to
the social issues committee of the parliament in Iran stated,
"These missionaries with reliance on huge money and propaganda are
trying to deviate our youth."
In a government interview with Mehr news agency, Abhari explained
that the Bibles were taken because of governmental concerns that
Christian missionaries mean to "deceive" young Iranians with
"false propaganda."
"The important point in this issue that should be considered by
intelligence, judicial and religious agencies is that all
religions are strengthening their power to confront Islam,
otherwise what does this huge number of Bibles mean?" he told
Mehr.
According to persecution advocacy group, Voice of the Martyrs,
missionary work is banned in Iran, though Christian conversion has
been growing in the majority Islamic country in recent years.
Conversion from Islam to another religion, known as apostasy, is
also a crime in Iran, and offenders are often arrested and tried
in court. Recent legislation is aiming to have the crime of
apostasy punishable by death.
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Mohabat News noted that in another Bible seizing in November 2010,
a bus was inspected in the village of Darishk and 300 Bibles were
taken and burned.
Several Christian churches in Iran have also been closed in order
to discourage conversion. One such church is the Assyrian
Pentecostal Church in Tehran that closed in March 2009 after
threats from the government.
The Christian Post reported in February 2010 that Evangelical
Pastor, Rev. Wilson Issavi was arrested and his church, the
Assyrian Evangelical Church in Kermanshah, closed.
Mohabat News commentates that Islamic republic officials have been
concerned about Christian conversions despite their own Islamic
propaganda against Christianity in recent decades. The fact that
conversions continue in the wake of arrest and persecution is also
noted.
“Islamic republic considers itself the responsible guide for
people's thoughts. So what is their fear of the importation and
distribution of non-Islamic religious books?” Mohabat News has
reported.