CHRISTIANS of all denominations are reported to be "encouraged rather than dismayed" by the Anglican bishop's miraculous escape from assassination in Iran last week, Bishop Hossein Delghani-Tafti has suffered harassment and violence for eight months, and at 3am last Friday, three gunmen broke into his bedroom and fired bullets into his pillow. His English-born wife, Margaret, was slightly injured when she threw herself across him to save him, The bishop was unhurt.
Christian congregations in Iran have been noticeably depleted since the Ayotollah sent all expatriates packing to their native countries curlier this year, but the small indigenous population has held firm, Far from being disheartened by when the bishop showed his congregation the bullet-peppered pillow. they "thanked God for His protection", Technically, the new constitution of Iran recognises "minority" religions such as Judaism and Christianity, and in general, Christian congregations do not seem to have been severely harassed during worship or other activities. Sgme fanatical Moslem sects, however, do seem to he bent on wiping out Christianity. Local revolutionary groups have taken over Christian hospitals in Isfahan and Shiraz, and missionary teams have had to withdraw from the country.