Iran rounds up Christians in crackdown

The latest raids have targeted grass-roots Christian groups Iran describes as “hard-liners” who pose a threat to the Islamic state. Authorities increasingly view them with suspicions that range from trying to convert Muslims

Muslims don't try to convert people?

And imagine the outrage if a government official in a western country said this about muslims "Tehran Governor Morteza Tamadon described the Christians as “hard-line” missionaries who have “inserted themselves into Islam like a parasite,” ". There would be demands for their death straight away.

"The suicide blast in Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Alexandria on Jan 1, which killed 21 Coptic Christian worshippers, followed threats by al-Qaida in Iraq over claims that Coptic leaders forced two women who converted to Islam to return to Christianity—allegations that church leaders deny."

How ironic can things get.

The Coptic Christians have been in North Africa and the middle east since before Islam existed and even before the RC church existed.

Not a day goes by in one or more of these countries where a Coptic girl goes "missing" only for her family to be told that she is now married and has converted to Islam and even when and if these girls escape their so-called husbands (read captors) in most cases the governments refuse to annul their supposed conversion making it against the law for them to marry a non-Muslim.

Imagine there's no Iran. Nothing to kill or die for... and no Ramadan too.

Talk about a change of events, especially when Iran's constitution gives protected status to Christians.....

Sucks, though.

And I thought most of the Iranians who protested against the elections were Muslims (other faiths besideds Islam in Iran is just 2% of the population).

manfromamerica:

" Muslims don't try to convert people? "

They do, but that is A-OK according to islamic doctrine. Converting into islam is possible any time at moments notice. However, converting out of it is apostacy and punished by death. Think of the "Hotel California".

Fruitsbasket:

" Talk about a change of events, especially when Iran's constitution gives protected status to Christians..... "

"Protected status" is a nice euphemism for "second-class dhimmi". It does not by any means mean "equal" in islamic countries.

Only the most naive would be surprised by this, or feel the need to rationalize what the medieval theocracy ruling Iran is doing.

Lets round up all the muslims and see how that goes down with the average person, even just typing it on here leaves me wide open to have this post deleted as being offensive or vulgar.

But hey come on isnt actually rounding up christians offensive or vulgar???

To me it most certainly is and i'm not even christian or religous for that matter.

This rubbish needs to be stopped, muslims making demands and infringing on human rights left right and center all over the world and all we can do is cop it?

From the article: "threats to Islam"

I dare say the #1 threat to Islam is common sense.

"Only the most naive would be surprised by this, or feel the need to rationalize what the medieval theocracy ruling Iran is doing."

Who are these people exactly?

I dare say the #1 threat to Islam is common sense.

Very good point.

Government sanctioned persecution. Know it for what it is.

More evil done in the name of religion. Wish man was not so weak and insecure to need to believe rubbish. World would be a better place and these people would be free.

Modern countries like the United Statses of America are still embroilled by internal rifts caused by their home-grown religious nuts. What hope is there for a country led by religious nuts like Iran?

I dare say the #1 threat to Islam is common sense.

Oh This is so true. Don't expect it to change anytime soon.

Modern countries like the United Statses of America are still embroilled by internal rifts caused by their home-grown religious nuts.

Yes it's hard to believe that the US can tolerate these intolerant muslims on their own soil. I guess being politically correct will be the ruin of the US, UK and the rest of Europe.

There was one persian religious scholar and prophet called Mani who created the Manichaeism, a religious doctrine that combined all religions into one, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, etc. He was killed by the Zoroastrians because of his growing influence in persia. If he had succeeded maybe people will not fight over such minor things as the name of their god.

sabiwabi - What's the rational reason for this?

LoveUSA:

" There was one persian religious scholar and prophet called Mani who created the Manichaeism, a religious doctrine that combined all religions into one, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, etc. He was killed by the Zoroastrians because of his growing influence in persia. If he had succeeded maybe people will not fight over such minor things as the name of their god. "

Christians, Buddhists, and Jews can and do get along without violence all over the world. So even if he had united those three, nothing would be different today. Iran would still be an islamic dictatorship, and Manichaists would live as a persecuted minority. Only the label would be different.

SolidariTea: Only the most naive would be surprised by this

Couldn't agree more. It's hardly news that Islamic nations are unsafe places for "Infidels" to be living.

Modern countries like the United Statses of America are still embroilled by internal rifts caused by their home-grown religious nuts

If America were the home of the Vatican maybe that comment would be relevant.

But it isn't.