Iran is over 99% Muslim and Islam is the state religion.
Article 4 of the country's constitution declares that all laws and institutions "must be based on Islamic criteria" and although Christians are an officially recognised minority, they are treated as second class citizens.
This leaves them open to abuse and they are denied many rights. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejadboasts that the Christian minority "enjoys equal rights",but any public expression of faith or missionary action, whatever form it may take, is banned as proselytism.
Christian Churches are permitted to hold services in churches and other buildings designated for the purpose but they are forbidden from expressing their faith in public.
The government also underestimates the numbers of Christians in the country: official figures put the number at 79,000 however the Armenian Orthodox alone number up to 200,000 and other Christian denominations have at least 20,000 members.
This short video of "Where God Weeps" explores the difficult situation facing Christians in Iran today.
http://www.h2onews.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224448012...
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