Iranian authorities have demolished the historic Evangelical Church of Mashhad, a nationally registered heritage site and one of the country’s most important Protestant landmarks.
The church was reportedly leveled by bulldozers during the night of June 4. The property had been at the center of a years-long dispute involving state-linked institutions, including the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order, known as EIKO, and Iran’s Revolutionary Court.
Built during the early Pahlavi period, the church was an important center for Iran’s evangelical community and was associated with the long-standing Christian presence in Mashhad.
Religious organizations said previous assurances from local officials and parliamentary representatives had prevented the church’s destruction for years. Those guarantees ultimately proved worthless when the property was seized and razed.