IRAN: CHRISTIANS REPRESSED, PERSECUTED AND JAILED

Christianity in Iran

Persecution is extreme in Iran. Persian, Farsi-speaking Christians must meet together in house churches in order to avoid detection. As Muslim converts to Christianity, they are particularly targeted, as their conversion is seen as a threat to Islam. Earlier this year, Iran’s parliament passed two new provisions to its Penal Code (Article 500) which has allowed harsher punishments for religious minorities.

Despite these enormous difficulties, Christianity only continues to grow. In the last 40 years the number of Christians in Iran has grown from 500 to close to 1 million.

Amin’s Story

Amin Khaki with his wife Laleh and son Ateen (5) outside the Civil and Revolutionary Court of Fardis, before his transfer to Ghezel Hesar prison. 10 November 2021

In November 2020 Iranian Intelligence agents raided the homes of Persian converts, Amin Khaki, Milad Goodarzi and Alireza Nourmohammadi, in Fardis, west of Tehran, confiscating phones, laptops and everything relating to Christianity. In May 2021 the three converts became the first Iranian Christians to be charged and convicted under the penal code's newly amended Article 500, when they were fined and handed the maximum sentence of five years in prison for 'engaging in propaganda that educates in a deviant way contrary to the holy religion of Islam'. In August the fine was removed and the sentences reduced to three years on appeal. Article 18 reports (8 Nov): 'The three men, who have all spent time in prison before because of their Christian faith and activities, have until Wednesday, 10 November, to hand themselves in to the prison authorities in Karaj.'

'Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body' (Hebrews 13:3 ESV).

 
Please pray that God would

  • Comfort and sustain Iranian believers - men and women - who are imprisoned, exiled or awaiting trial simply for exercising their Christian faith through prayer, worship and witness.

  • May their Almighty Father protect them; may Christ the Good Shepherd lead them and supply their needs; and may the ever-present Holy Spirit draw them into prayer and fill them with 'the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding' so as to guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (from Philippians 4:3-7). 'But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head' (Psalm 3:3 ESV).

Read more about the situation in Iran here:
https://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com/2021/11/rlpb-624-iran-christians-repressed.html