Iran

Updated: Iranian-Assyrian Pastor and wife denied appeal; combined 15 year sentence upheld

Iranian-Assyrian Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, 66, and his wife Shamiran Issavi, 65, were convicted in July 2017 and January 2018,...

World Press Freedom Day 2020: Threats Faced by Assyrian Journalists

The United Nations recognizes May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day, observed to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press...

Sentencing Hearing for Shamiran Issavi and Victor Bet-Tamraz Postponed

Today's scheduled sentencing hearing for Shamiran Issavi, Pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz, and three Christian converts charged for activities...

API Statement on Indigenous Peoples' Day 2019

An estimated 3.5 million people globally comprise a distinct, indigenous ethnic group known as Assyrians. Tracing their heritage to...

Assyrian Human Rights Activist Meets with U.S. President Donald Trump

On July 17, 2019, Iranian Assyrian human rights activist Dabrina Bet Tamraz was part of a delegation of survivors of religious...

Dabrina Bet Tamraz Testimony at U.S. State Department Ministerial

Assyrian Pastor and human rights activist Dabrina Bet Tamraz spoke on a panel entitled "Addressing Challenges to Religious Freedom in the...

Highlights from 2018 U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report

On June 21, 2019, the U.S. Department of State released its 2018 Report on International Religious Freedom which describes the status of...

Iranian Airstrikes in northern Iraq Displace Hundreds of Assyrian Civilians

On Saturday, September 8, 2018, Iranian airstrikes targeted the headquarters of two Iranian Kurdish opposition party near the Assyrian...

Assyrians in Iran Imprisoned for Activities Related to the Practice of Christian Faith

Two ethnic Assyrians in Iran, Victor Bet-Tamraz and his wife Shamiran Issavi, have each been sentenced to ten years in prison for...