{"id":4539,"date":"2018-04-30T16:39:26","date_gmt":"2018-04-30T16:39:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?page_id=4539"},"modified":"2021-01-16T13:40:40","modified_gmt":"2021-01-16T04:40:40","slug":"iran","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/country-profile\/iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Country Profile” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:15px|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1524331879595{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1524330429795{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbSUyRm1hcHMlMkZlbWJlZCUzRnBiJTNEJTIxMW0xOCUyMTFtMTIlMjExbTMlMjExZDY5MTMyMzMuNDAzNTE1NDQ5JTIxMmQ0OS4xOTQ0OTM2NzMzOTA5MyUyMTNkMzIuMjE0OTQ2ODUwMDgxMzc1JTIxMm0zJTIxMWYwJTIxMmYwJTIxM2YwJTIxM20yJTIxMWkxMDI0JTIxMmk3NjglMjE0ZjEzLjElMjEzbTMlMjExbTIlMjExczB4M2VmN2VjMmVjMTZiMWRmMSUyNTNBMHg0MGIwOTVkMzllNTFmYWNlJTIxMno3SjIwNjU2QSUyMTVlMCUyMTNtMiUyMTFza28lMjEyc2tyJTIxNHYxNTI1MTA2NjQxMjQ4JTIyJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjI2MDAlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjI0NTAlMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBzdHlsZSUzRCUyMmJvcmRlciUzQTAlMjIlMjBhbGxvd2Z1bGxzY3JlZW4lM0UlM0MlMkZpZnJhbWUlM0U=”][vc_custom_heading text=”About Iran” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1563349574269{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

DESIGNATION:<\/strong> Restricted<\/p>\n

OVERVIEW:<\/strong> The Islamic Revolution of 1979, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, affected Iran more than any other event in modern history. It led to the establishment of the world\u2019s only country governed by an Islamic theocracy, now more than 40 years old. Today, many of those who committed their lives to Islamic rule are filled with despair. This disillusionment has opened new doors for the gospel, which is sweeping across the nation via satellite TV and the internet, and growing house church movements. However, the government continues its attempts to thwart this move of God. Christian leaders and pastors are often arrested and their families harassed, and some are left with no option other than to flee the country.<\/p>\n

MAJOR RELIGIONS:<\/strong> Iran is the only nation in the world whose official state religion is Shiite Islam. More than 97% of Iranians\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are identified as Muslims by its\u00a0<\/span><\/span>government,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0but the r<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>ality is that a si<\/span><\/span>g<\/span><\/span>nificant portion of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>population has abandoned Islam and many have come to Christ.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

PERSECUTOR<\/strong>: Christians are persecuted by government authorities, which have a network of informants in each city. Family, friends and community members sometimes also persecute Christians, especially when news of a conversion becomes public.<\/p>\n

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN IN IRAN:<\/strong> The Iranian government is among the most oppressive regimes in the world. It is illegal to leave Islam, and Christians face the constant threat of imprisonment and being falsely charged with \u201cacting against national security\u201d for owning Bibles<\/span><\/span>\u00a0or even talking about Christ<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Christians are routinely fired from their jobs, and it is difficult for a known believer to find a new job. They also are often evicted from rented homes. Many Christians gather in secret fellowships and receive teaching through Christian media smuggled into the country as well as through broadcast media<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Several Christians are currently imprisoned, and many others are under house arrest awaiting sentencing.<\/p>\n

ACCESS TO BIBLES:<\/strong> Bibles are highly restricted. It is illegal to import them and illegal to have Bibles printed in the country. Since they are so difficult to obtain, Bibles are treasured by Iranian believers. Few have their own copy of God\u2019s Word.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

VOM WORK:<\/strong> VOM provides encouragement, support and training for former prisoners as they rebuild their lives. We also help train current and future Christian leaders in seminary work, and we actively work to distribute God\u2019s Word to believers inside Iran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4247″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]