IRAN (ANS) -- A recent survey reveals that seventy factions of Satanism are active in Iran and these Satanist groups have attracted around two thousand members in some cities in the country.

Iranian youths giving a Satanist symbol

This has been revealed in a story by Mohabat News (http://mohabatnews.com), the Iranian Christian News Agency.

It says in a story, “The findings of a recent government survey show that the dangers of such groups regarding cultural and moral matters have reached a critical level. The survey also reveals that New-age Satanist groups are more active in central and south-west Iran, especially in Shiraz (924 KMs South of Tehran) and Karaj (25 KMs, North-West of Tehran) than elsewhere.

“Members of such groups range in age from 16 to 24 and boys show 10 times more interest than girls in joining these Satanist groups. The survey also indicates that internet and private parties are the primary ways used to attract youth.

“The report was submitted to senior authorities of the country indicating that baggy clothes, clothes with tawdry colors, special sharp horned rings, unusual wristbands, skull necklaces and long hair or shaved heads are symbols of the groups that tend toward Satanism. As a result of this report the police have opposed such Satanist groups and their symbols. From time to time Iranian police have reported the closure of a number of shops in which the symbols and clothes representing Satanism are being sold.”

The story went on to say that some religious experts believe that Satanism and its factions have no place in the Islamic world and note that Satanism is in its early stages in Iran. However, the tendency towards Satanism has grown to the extent that the Intelligence Minister of Iran warned students against corrupt and heretical beliefs, especially Satanism. The Intelligence Minister also associated activities designed to attract youth to such groups, with the soft-war of the enemy.

“It seems this soft-war has even penetrated the government T.V. and Radio organization (I.R.I.B). A member of the group researching this issue said some of the music used in commercials and advertisements for movie and T.V. series are taken from the ceremonies and music of Satanist groups,” added the news agency.

“Although Satanism is a corrupted belief system and joining Satanist groups could eventually ruin the lives of people, we should also remember that most Iranian youth who use the symbols of Satanism are only seeking to attract attention to themselves and know nothing of their meaning.”

Dan Wooding, 71, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 48 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK and also in Belize and South Africa. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 192 countries and also provides a regular commentary for Worship Life Radio on KWVE. You can follow Dan Wooding on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books, one of which is his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available this link.