Iranian churches forced to stop Farsi-language services

Iran's Ministry of Intelligence has ordered the last two officially registered churches holding Friday Farsi-language services in Tehran to discontinue them.

Compass Direct News reports that Emmanuel Protestant Church and St Peter's Evangelical Church were the last two official churches offering Farsi-language services on Fridays in Tehran, according to Middle East Concern (MEC).

Compass said officials issued the order on 10 February. Authorities had ordered the Central Church of Tehran to close its Friday Farsi services in December 2009.

The Assemblies of God congregation had conducted multiple services on Fridays. Friday services in Tehran attracted the city's converts to Christianity as well as Muslims interested in Christianity, as Friday is most Iranians' day off during the week.

Compass explained that Iranian authorities told the churches they can hold the services on Sunday, a working day when most Iranians are not able to attend.

"This decision means that there are now no Farsi-language services on Fridays in any officially registered church in Tehran," an MEC report issued this week stated.

Compass said Emmanuel and St Peter's are Presbyterian churches, and, along with the Central Church, are among Tehran's few registered churches.

They exist mainly to serve the Armenian and Assyrian communities. The three churches' Armenian- and Assyrian - language services are typically held on Sundays.

A source said that the newest restrictions have cut the two churches' memberships by half.