Christians in Iran are being warned not to join the country’s uprisings for fear of further persecution for their faith.

According to persecution watchdog International Christian Concern, a community priest has asked Christians across the country to refrain from writing material contrary to the government on social media.

“These groups have been pressured for many years not to go against the regime for fear of being arrested or facing worse persecution,” the watchdog said. “Because of this persecution, many Christians over the years have left Iran, leaving the dwindling Christian population smaller every year.”

Iranian Christians are a minority in the country. According to Open Doors, there are around 800,000 Christians in the nation, with those converting from Islam facing the most extreme persecution.

The priest’s warning comes as people across Iran have been protesting against the government’s “morality police” which arrested a woman for not properly wearing a hijab. She was later found dead.

The protests, which are the largest in Iran since 2019, surpassed 100 consecutive days over the weekend.

Earlier this month, the bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, who is of Iranian heritage, condemned the executions of two men who had been convicted of killing two members of the security forces during the anti-government protests.

She also asked the government to help Iranians.

The government has urged all British people in Iran to leave the country.