Iran sees rise in mass conversions to Christianity despite government suppression

Islamic clerics in Iran are expressing concern about the massive rise of Christianity in Iran, especially among youths, despite rigorous Islamic indoctrination.

Ayatollah Alavi Boroujerdi, a leading Islamic seminary official, has voiced out his concern that there are "accurate reports" indicating that Iranian youths are "becoming Christians in Qom and attending house churches."

Mohabat News, which reports on the persecution and state of Christianity in Iran, noted that there have been earlier reports that show a rise in the number of Iranians turning away from Islam and converting to Christianity.

The news outlet pointed out that the "high rate of conversion of Iranian youth to Christianity is in spite of rigorous Islamic indoctrination of the youth in their families and educational system."

"The Islamic government of Iran dedicates massive budgets to the support of Islamic organizations that promote Islam among the youth within and without Iran's borders," it added.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, one of the most senior Islamic Shi'ite clerics in the country, has blamed the foreign influence for the mass conversion of young Iranians to Christianity.

After Shirazi raised his concerns about the popularity of Christianity in the suburbs of Mashhad last year, the city's religious and political officials immediately sent a large number of Islamic teachers in preachers in the area in an attempt to turn the youth's away from Christianity.

Following the efforts of Islamic teachers and preachers, the officials launched a crackdown on youths who refused to turn back to Islam.

The Iranian law enforcement and intelligence ministry started arresting Christian converts, who are faced with long prison terms and heavy bails for their temporary release.

Another Ayatollah, based in Tabriz, said that he had heard of reports that as many as 600 residents of one of the cities in Khorasan province had converted to Christianity at one time.

Many Iranian Christian converts have been arrested in recent years, but the number of house churches in the country continues to grow at an exponential rate despite the crackdown on Christians.

In a report released seven years ago, Iranian Revolutionary Guards have identified 200 house churches in Mashhad, which is known to be the Islamic capital of Iran and the Shi'ite Muslim world. According to Mohabat News, there are other reports that indicate that the number has grown significantly since then, and other cities, such as Rasht, Tehran and Karaj, also have a record number of house churches.

The Iranian government has reportedly been spending millions of dollars for Islamic propaganda, alongside its crackdown on Christian converts and house churches across the country. However, the strategies appear to be ineffective, with mission group Elam Ministries separately estimating that there are currently as many as 360,000 Christians in Iran, a significant increase from only 500 in 1979.