Facing exile and persecution, an Iranian dissident crossed from devout Muslim to student of Judaism

Iranian refugee Behnam Vali Heydarian recounts his journey from devout Muslim to Christianity and toward Judaism, detailing persecution, assassination attempts, and pro-Israel activism. He faces deportation from Switzerland to Iran, where he fears execution. His story spans four countries and includes a near-death experience, secret home churches, and the abduction of his father by Iranian security forces.

Behnam Vali Heydarian, an Iranian dissident now living in Switzerland, has undergone a dramatic spiritual journey from devout Muslim to Christian pastor to student of Judaism. He spoke extensively with The Jerusalem Post about his life across four countries, detailing Iran's campaign of transnational repression, multiple attempts on his life, and the devastating consequences he could face if deported from Switzerland to Georgia and ultimately back to Iran. Heydarian was born in Kuwait in 1981 to Iranian parents who returned to Iran during the Gulf War. At 17, he witnessed the regime's brutality when the IRGC raided the University of Tehran. At 19, his father was abducted by men believed to be Iranian security forces and never seen again. After a heart attack at 29, Heydarian had a near-death experience that led him to Christianity. He spent years running secret home churches and distributing New Testaments in Iran. After a friend was killed by police in 2016 and another arrested in 2017, he fled to Georgia. His activism against the Iranian regime has continued, and he now faces deportation from Switzerland.