In an interview with The 700 Club, author Sama Salimi Sadi describes the extreme oppression faced by ordinary citizens under Iran's Islamic regime since the 1979 revolution. The government exerts strict control over every facet of life—politically, financially, and socially—severely limiting personal freedoms and enforcing strict Sharia laws.
Sister Sama highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis, noting that peaceful anti-regime protests are met with brutal violence, which she describes as a modern massacre. She calls upon Western democracies to recognize that the Iranian people are victims and hostages of the regime rather than its collaborators, urging the international community to take a stand.
Targeted Persecution of the Underground Church.
Sister Sama shares the harrowing reality of growing up as the daughter of a Christian pastor who converted from Islam. Because public Christian ceremonies like baptism or ordination are banned, and operating house churches is treated as an anti-governmental activity, her family faced continuous government retaliation. From the tender age of six, she witnessed routine, terrifying raids on her family home where security forces confiscated religious items and physically abused her parents.
To avoid targeting the Christian faith directly on paper, the regime often labels believers with politically charged charges like Zionist to justify their harsh treatment.
Arbitrary Detention and the Turning Point.
The oppression culminated in 2009 after her family attempted to refurbish an abandoned Anglican church, drawing intense scrutiny from the intelligence police. Sister Sama recounts the terrifying experience of her father being secretly detained for a month without the family knowing if he was alive. During this time, she was blindfolded and aggressively interrogated herself. Her father was ultimately subjected to three months of solitary confinement in a small, windowless, and unsanitary cell.
When he was finally released on bail, doctors warned that another round of imprisonment would claim his life, serving as the final catalyst for the family to plan their escape.
A Daring Escape and Continued Hope
In 2016, the family made a daring escape from Iran into Turkey, where they registered as asylum seekers with the United Nations. Sister Sama chronicles this harrowing journey of survival and faith in her book, Sama: A Modern Exodus. Despite the severe persecution she endured, she remains dedicated to encouraging Iran's underground church through specialized ministry work. The interview concludes on a powerful note of hope, highlighting that despite intense persecution, Iran currently boasts the fastest-growing Christian population in the world, with over a million citizens quietly turning away from the mandatory state religion.
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