9 Christians Arrested In Iran For Proselytizing

I find it terribly ironic that it's perfectly fine for Muslims to proselytize, which they do (Dawah) all over the world, and as the fastest growing religion worldwide they are obviously doing a great job of it, and yet Christians are condemned by Muslims for doing the same thing. And in some countries Christian proselyzting (which is as much spiritual obligation to them as Dawah is to Muslims)can get them killed or jailed. Why is this? Why are Muslims allowed to proselytize and yet Christians are forbidden to evangelize? Frankly, I find the whole idea of proselytizing distasteful, but come on, let's be equal.

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And whereas Muslims are not forbidden from converting non-Muslims to Islam in Judeo-Christian majority countries, Christians in Iran are arrested.

Iranian State television reported the arrest of nine people on the charge of carrying out evangelism just outside of Hamedan, a well-informed Christian Network reported on Wednesday, September 15.

According to an Iranian State Television report monitored by the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) these nine Christians were cooperating with Christian-Zionist organizations. The TV report labeled those arrested as “Christian Zionists” and “evangelicals". However, it did not mention their relationship with Israel.

According to the television program, two of the Christians were reported being supported by organizations outside Iran, in particular, the United States and Great Britain.

Iran, the first to criticize others, has according to Open Doors ( a Christian advocacy group) the second worst record in terms of persecuting Christians. Apparently, Korea won top spot.

I guess the theory is that Christianity is in competition with Islam for winning the most souls.

Elam Ministries, an organization supporting churches in Iran, has linked the crackdown on Christians to concern among Iran's leaders about the spread of Christianity in the Islamic nation.

"Because Iran is a strategic gateway nation, the growing church in Iran will impact Muslim nations across the Islamic world."

In 1979, there was less than 500 known Christians from a Muslim background in Iran according to Elam ministries. However, by the most conservative estimates at least 100,000 believers are in the nation today.

Islam claims there is no compulsion in religion. Too bad they don't follow that rule. There should be no compulsion in any religion, and people should be free to convert to whichever faith they feel the greatest connection with.