UN Experts Question Iran Over Confiscation of Historic Protestant Church

Two United Nations special rapporteurs have formally requested an explanation from the Iranian government regarding the July seizure of St. Peter’s Evangelical Church in Tehran. The property, which spans approximately 10 acres, included offices for the Bible Society and the Council of Evangelical Churches of Iran, as well as homes for about 20 families from the local Assyrian and Armenian Christian communities who were subsequently evicted.

UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, Mai Sato, and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghanea, expressed concern that the seizure reflects a long-standing pattern of state actions against Christian communities. The officials noted that the number of Protestant churches offering services in Persian has dwindled to effectively zero, as other properties have been demolished or repurposed, and Anglican churches remain closed following pandemic-era restrictions.

According to the UN experts, the Iranian government has not responded to their inquiries sent in July, and the site remains under the control of regime forces. The rapporteurs stated that these forced evictions violate international human rights law by depriving a historic community of both their residences and their place of worship.