Iran's secret Christian 'house churches'
After Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979, some Christians faced persecution. Between 2002 and 2005, Naghmeh Panahi set up a network of 'house churches' across the country.
After Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979, some Christians faced persecution. Between 2002 and 2005, Naghmeh Panahi and her husband, Saeed Abedini, set up a network of secret 'house churches' across the country. But it came at a cost: they were arrested, forced to flee the country, and Saeed was jailed. Naghmeh Panahi speaks to Ben Henderson.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.
(Photo: Naghmeh Panahi. Credit: Kyle Green/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Last Monday 08:50GMT³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service
- Last Monday 12:50GMT³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service
- Last Monday 18:50GMT³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Last Monday 23:50GMT³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Last Tuesday 03:50GMT³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa
Podcast
-
Witness History
History as told by the people who were there