Iranian Christian dissident denied right to stay in Israel with his wife, child – interview

Ramin Parsa, an Iranian Christian dissident living in Israel with his Israeli wife and child, faces deportation after the Interior Ministry denied his citizenship application. Parsa, who has advocated for Israel and volunteered extensively after October 7, believes the denial stems from his Christian faith, not security concerns, citing the Shas party's anti-Messianic stance within the Ministry. He recounted his traumatic upbringing in Iran, witnessing public executions and experiencing torture at 16, which led him to reject the Iranian regime and eventually convert to Christianity. Parsa, an American citizen, met his wife online through his pro-Israel advocacy. The family has one final appeal on August 27. The Interior Ministry declined to comment on individual cases.