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During the festive season of Christmas and the Christian New Year, several Iranian Christians were, in a coordinated sting operation, arrested by the security and intelligence officers of the Ministry of Information, reports Mohabat News.

Reports received by the Iranian Christian News Agency, (Mohabat News), indicate that on Sunday December 26, 2010, during the festive season when Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and welcome the arrival of the New Year, several Iranian Christians, in a pre-planned and coordinated sting operation, were arrested individually at their residences by the security intelligence agents of the Ministry of Information.

This report adds that upon entering the homes of these Christians, the security agents searched and seized personal items such as computers belonging to these individuals.

Unofficial reports received from Iran indicate that the number of the arrested, which in some cases included family members as well, is 10.

Even though the official government sources have not released the names of the detainees, Mohabat News has managed to obtain a list of names, which after proper verification of the information, will be released through this website.

Some news sources in Tehran have reported that the charges brought against these detained individuals and their families have been apostasy, propagation of Christian faith, and affiliation with foreign Christian organizations.

It seems that these individuals, according to reports received, were transferred to unknown locations for detention and were allowed a brief call to their families to inform them of their well-being without any further information about the conditions of their detention.

Other reports received in the last few days indicate that the government security and intelligence apparatus is seeking to identify and apprehend other individuals, who have been affiliated with the detained Christians, but so far they have not succeeded and some of these individuals remain at large.

Some sources have commented that this new wave of arrests and persecution of Iranian Christians has coincided with the start of the festive season of Christmas when Christians all over the world celebrate this jubilant season.

It seems that the recent attacks and arrests have become more intense, frequent, and organized in light of the recent speech given by Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic republic of Iran, in the city of Qum on October 19, 2010, in which he publicly, for the first time, warned his followers of the dangers of the rapid growth and expansion of home-based churches, surpassing the dangers of Baha'i and other mystical sects, as the new threat to the Islamic regime.