[Field Story] 'Country of Prohibition' Iran, death rate rises after drinking fake alcohol

In Iran, where alcohol is banned by law, rise in deaths from drinking 'fake alcohol'.

According to` New York Times (NYT) on the 15th (local time), Hosro Hassanzadeh, a famous artist active in the capital of Iran, Tehran, lost his sight within a few hours after drinking his self-made alcohol on the 2nd. Hassanzadeh was taken to the emergency room, but eventually died. His cause of death was methanol poisoning. Fake alcohol made by mixing methanol, distilled water and raisins, became the problem.

The reason Hassanzadeh had no choice but to manufacture fake alcohol is because of the current law. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran, who is a theocratic nation has banned drinking, manufacturing, distributing, and selling alcohol. Violation ma be punishable by 80 lashes and a fine.

Artists who fled the Iranian government's tyranny to overseas, have made a statement on the news of Hasanzadeh's death, saying, "He is clearly a victim of religious authoritarianism," and "we must not forget that the Iranian government killed him."

According to Iranian health authorities and local media, at least 309 people were hospitalized for methanol poisoning from May to July this year, and 31 among them have died. The Iranian Forensic Society also issued a report that the number of people who died from fake alcohol consumption in last year were 644, a 30% increase from 2021.

The actual number of deaths may be higher as many cases are not reported due to severe punishment.

Experts say that more research is needed on the exact reason for the recent increase in fake alcohol deaths. However, citizens pointed out that it is because the Iranian authorities excessively suppress the instincts of the Iranians, the descendants of the Persian people who have historically loved alcohol.

The NYT pointed out, “The fake alcohol death case is an example of how the religious rules of the Islamic Republic (Iran) oppress ordinary citizens and intervenes in their personal lives.”

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” (Mark 4:30*32)

God, in Iran, where drinking is prohibited by law, we hear that a lot of people are dying while making and drinking fake alcohol.

The government strictly suppresses and regulates the Iranian people with Islamic law, but the Iranian people, who have fallen into skepticism about Islam, are dying while they try to avoid the suppression and pursue sins.

We desperately want the kingdom of the holy God to come to the Iranian people, who are wandering and suffering in the dark because they do not know the name of Jesus

Let every soul in Iran who is searching for truth, to hear the name of Jesus, who is their way, truth, and life. Plant the faith that is like a grain of mustard seeds for the Lord on their spirit and soul.

Let the work of the Holy Sprit begin with the land of Iran, so that the faith will grow larger than all the grasses, and the branch will cover Iran, Persia, and all the nations as the shade.

Would you strongly anoint the Iranian church to become a holy church that leads the young sheep of Iran, so that they become to be the ones who are not afraid of government persecution and oppression. Let them be courageous so that they will lead the lost sheep to the LORD, our shepherd, and rise up as a holy church.