By Ben Cohen2024-03-26T08:58:00
A new report says life for Christians in Iran is harder than ever. Ben Cohen says their horrific treatment at the hands of the Morality Police reminds him of George Orwell’s famous dystopian novel
On 16 September 2022, 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini died in a Tehran hospital. Iran’s Morality Police had arrested her for wearing her hijab incorrectly. The official version of events was that she died of a heart attack in custody. Witnesses to her detention suggest she died from a brutal beating by police – a finding echoed by a UN factfinding mission into the death.
I’m sure you will have seen footage of thousands taking to the streets in protest – it started within hours of her death. It’s hard to gauge the total number that demonstrated, but an estimated 20,000 were detained and over 550 killed – in part due to security forces firing live rounds of ammunition at the protestors.
Along with several media commentators, I wondered if Iran’s theocratic totalitarian government could survive the public outcry. Yet, 18 months later, they are still very much in place, their vice-like grip on power even tighter and more ruthless.
2024-01-22T14:22:00Z By John Coleby
Christian charity Open Doors has revealed the most dangerous places in the world to follow Jesus in 2024. Here’s the top ten list, and how you can pray for Christians who face imprisonment and even death because of their faith
2023-12-05T12:43:00Z By Joseph D'Souza
The conflict in Israel and Gaza is much bigger than the Middle East, says Bishop Joseph D’Souza. Peace requires Western democracies to stand up to extremists, not appease them
2025-06-12T18:28:00Z By George Luke
After being accused of serious sexual misconduct and drug abuse, the former Newsboys singer Michael Tait has issued a full apology. George Luke hopes other Christian leaders caught in sin will take the same approach
2025-06-12T17:53:00Z By Miriam Cates
A new UN report says all but three countries in the world will have below replacement levels of reproduction by the end of the century. God’s command to ”increase in number” was never meant to be an optional extra, says Miriam Cates. It’s time that Christians took it seriously again
2025-06-12T17:41:00Z By Krish Kandiah
With so much tragedy and unrest dominating our news headlines, it can be tempting to turn away or become disheartened. But in a world where conflict drowns out compassion, we need peacemakers more than ever, says Dr Krish Kandiah
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