Statement by World Iranian Christian Alliance in response to the mass unlawful killing of protesting civilians in Iran
The World Iranian Christian Alliance, with profound sorrow, unequivocally condemns in the strongest possible terms the widespread, systematic, and brutal killing of Iranian protesting citizens in recent days, which—according to reports, physical evidence, and published images—has resulted in the deaths of thousands of defenceless people. What has occurred over these past days is not merely the suppression of protests, but a new chapter of state violence and the commission of crimes that, from the perspective of international law, may constitute crimes against humanity—crimes that are virtually unprecedented in Iran’s contemporary history.
We honour the memory of all those who lost their lives in this horrific massacre and consider ourselves to be in mourning alongside their bereaved families. We also express our deepest solidarity with the wounded and the detainees of these tragic events and pray for them.
We remember with respect and sympathy those Christian citizens who, during these peaceful protests, were killed, injured, or detained solely for demanding their fundamental human rights and God-given dignity.
The World Iranian Christian Alliance emphasises that the extensive and lethal use of violence against unarmed protesters, mass arrests, a shoot-to-kill approach against civilians, and attempts to legitimise these actions through fabricated accusations and baseless narratives, constitute grave, systematic, and deliberate violations of fundamental human-rights principles and binding international obligations. Such actions are unjustifiable under any circumstances.
At the same time, we regard the Iranian government’s deliberate and widespread shutdown of the Internet, obstruction of communications, suppression of the free flow of information, and disruption of citizens’ access to media and satellite communications as an inseparable part of the machinery of repression—measures undertaken with the aim of concealing the scale of the crimes, preventing documentation, and isolating the people of Iran from the free world.
Accordingly, the World Iranian Christian Alliance calls upon United Nations member states, international bodies, and all human rights organisations to act immediately, transparently, and decisively, in proportion to the magnitude of this humanitarian catastrophe, including by:
* Issuing an explicit and unambiguous condemnation of the recent killings, investigating and acknowledging actions that constitute clear crimes against humanity;
* Applying immediate, targeted, and effective political, legal, and diplomatic pressure against those who ordered and carried out these crimes;
* Activating and strengthening independent international mechanisms for fact-finding and accountability to prevent the continuation of impunity;
* Taking concrete action to ensure the Iranian people’s access to a free Internet, secure communication tools, and the free flow of information;
* Providing meaningful support and assistance to the people of Iran in their pursuit of civil and human rights and their inherent human dignity.
In these dark and decisive moments, inspired by the Holy Scriptures, we consider ourselves to be “prisoners of hope”, for in Christ—even in the darkest times—we believe in the triumph of light over darkness. The perseverance of the Iranian people conveys a message filled with hope and human dignity—a message that not only inspires us, but has also the awakened the conscience of the world, while simultaneously creating a moral and human responsibility for solidarity and effective action in response.
20/01/2026
