St Peter Evangelical Church in Tehran, Iran. Iranian authorities seized control of St Peter Evangelical Church in Tehran and evicted 20 families who were living in the 10-acre property. The compound contained homes, two schools and offices used by the Bible Society and of the Council of Evangelical Churches of Iran, which owns the land. Dr Pillay urged the government to hand the church back to the Council of Evangelical Churches in Iran and allow residents to return. Due to their historic status, Armenians and Assyrians are reportedly permitted, at least in theory, to conduct Christian worship services in Persian.