Full Breakdown
UN Experts Condemn Confiscation of Tehran’s St Peter’s Evangelical Church and Forced Evictions
7/16/2026, 9:44:11 PM
Core Event
On 12 July 2026 the last resident left the ten-acre St Peter’s Evangelical Church compound in central Tehran, ending a two-week deadline that forced 20 families—most low-income, long-standing occupants—to vacate. The compound, owned by the Council of Evangelical Churches of Iran, housed the historic 19th-century church, two schools, residential units, and offices of the Bible Society. Iranian authorities transferred the property to the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order in 1998, preventing re-registration, and have since seized the garden and issued a new deed in the name of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Background & Context
Persian-speaking Protestant worship has been systematically dismantled. Once around 50 Protestant churches existed; today “there are effectively none, as they have either been closed down or have had to stop offering services in Persian.” Recent incidents include the demolition of a Presbyterian church in Mashhad (June 2026) and the closure of the last three Anglican churches permitted to preach in Persian since the COVID-19 shutdowns. The Iranian constitution guarantees Christians the right to perform religious rites, a provision the UN says is being violated.
Key Figures & Groups
- St Peter’s Evangelical Church – historic Presbyterian congregation.
- Council of Evangelical Churches of Iran – landowner.
- Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order – government body holding the title.
- UN special rapporteurs Nazila Ghanea and Mai Sato – experts on freedom of religion and human rights in Iran.
- Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) – advocacy group.
- Asad* – Iranian Christian resident who described the evictions.
Data & Statistics
- 27 Christian families originally lived on the grounds; “approximately 95% of the 27 Christian families … have been forcibly evicted.”
- 20 families were given a two-week notice to leave.
- The compound spans roughly 10 acres (? 10,000 m²).
- At least 79 Christians are detained or imprisoned, the vast majority converts.
- The garden seized earlier measured 10,000 m².
Why It Matters
The seizure contravenes Iran’s constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. As a heritage site built in the late 1800s, its loss also erodes cultural history. Forced evictions risk rendering recognized religious and ethnic minorities homeless and signal a broader crackdown on religious freedom.
Official Statements & Responses
UN rapporteurs condemned the action, urging Iranian authorities to “allow the residents and congregation [of St Peter’s] to return, cease all threats and intimidation directed against the church community, and release those arbitrarily detained.” They added they are “in contact with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to clarify these issues.” Christian Solidarity Worldwide said, “We strongly condemn the seizure of the St Peter’s Evangelical Church compound, and the accompanying forced removal of many low-income families from affordable homes on the premises.”
Criticism & Opposition
Human-rights observers highlighted the pattern of repression, noting that Christians continue to face arrest, detention, and ill-treatment. The case of convert Mohammad Nikbakht—beaten, held incommunicado, and at risk of execution—was cited as evidence of systemic abuse.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Forced evictions are incompatible with international human rights law and risk leaving members of recognized religious and ethnic minorities homeless.” — Nazila Ghanea, UN special rapporteur
- “This is not an isolated incident, but the culmination of a long pattern of measures directed against Iran’s Christian community, and in particular against Persian-speaking Christian worship,” — Mai Sato, UN special rapporteur
- “Approximately 95% of the 27 Christian families who had been living on the grounds of St Peter’s Church in Tehran have been forcibly evicted,” — Asad*, Iranian Christian
- “At least 79 Christians are detained or imprisoned, the vast majority of whom are converts.” — UN special rapporteurs
- “Freedom of religion or belief includes the freedom to worship in community with others, in one’s own language, and to maintain places of worship. When a church is confiscated, a community loses not only a building but a place of worship and community life.” — UN special rapporteurs
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of families evicted: one report cites 20 families, another references 27 families with 95% evicted. The identity of the families is described variously as “Armenian and Assyrian” and more generally as “Christian families.” Iranian government officials have not provided a public response, leaving their legal justification unclear.
What’s Next
The UN rapporteurs have indicated ongoing dialogue with Iranian authorities and have called for the immediate reversal of the confiscation and the return of displaced residents. No specific timeline for compliance has been announced.
