Persecuted Christians, Muslims and Jews who fled Iran and now live in the UK fear attacks by those hired by the Iranian regime
Iranian Christians living in the UK remain fearful of their home country’s Islamic regime sending agents to intimidate or harm them
One congregant, a man in his 30s who I’ll call Ramzi, confided: “They brought a spy in here.” It started in 2022 after he took part in the global protests at“They sent a man to the church to get close to me and find out where I live,” Ramzi explains, speaking quietly in a back office. “He started to talk behind my back, telling the church leaders things to bring division into the group. After that, I realised people were outside my house, watching me.
Their demands grew louder this year after the journalist Pouria Zeraati of the independent TV station Iran International was stabbed in Wimbledon in March. The reporter has since” Iranian-backed plots to kill people in the UK since the start of 2022, according to MI5. Zeraati’s colleague Sima Sabet was lucky that
Seeking a new spiritual home, he attended a local church, but people there warned it was dangerous. “They told me: ‘As much as we love you to come, there is a risk you might get arrested.’ They pointed out of the window – they said: ‘Security forces set up a camera on that building. Every person coming to this church is recorded.’” He began arranging secret Bible classes at home instead; many Iranian Christians have to worship in private.
The pastor, Yohannan – not his real name – has helped many Iranian refugees through voluntary church work. There’s no shortage of demand; among people claiming asylum in the UK in the last year, Iranians are the third most common nationality with 7,895 applications, behind only Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“They are looking to see if we preach against the regime, not if we’re evangelising Jesus. If they find we’re attacking the government, they will attack us as well… We are careful – this isn’t Hyde Park Corner.” “I’m not saying here is heaven, but it is compared to Iran,” he says. “This country gives you the opportunity to live and breathe freely and to practice your faith. We have to appreciate it… If people complain, I say: go back to Iran.”Departing the church, Ramzi gives me a lift in his car to a nearby cafe. He wants me to meet other Iranians who are members of his local campaign group, protesting together and supporting each other.
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