Two Christian Prisoners in Need of Intercession

Behnam Irani
Photo: CSW
Farshid Fathi
Photo: FreeFarshid.org

Behnam Irani and Farshid Fathi, two Christian men imprisoned for their faith, are in need of our prayers and petitions.

Pastor Behnam, who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence, was beaten and transferred to an unknown location in the early hours of June 7th. Behnam has suffered from stomach ulcers and intestinal problems, and underwent surgery in February. (For more information on this prisoner of faith, visit our website.)

Meanwhile, a Christian prisoner whose foot was broken by a guard has been denied permission to return to hospital and receive further treatment. Farshid was among a group of more than 30 prisoners who were injured by prison guards in April. Despite being in agonizing pain, he was taken to hospital three days after the incident. Although he was treated with a cast, his foot requires follow-up surgery. However, Farshid has been denied further treatment and, medically speaking, the window of opportunity for an operation has passed. He must now wait for his foot to heal naturally. (To learn more about the attack on Farshid, please visit this page.)

Please pray that God will surround Behnam and Farshid with His peace and grace. While we can rest assured that God is fully aware of Behnam's current whereabouts and condition, pray that Iran's authorities will soon reveal his location to his loved ones. Let us also pray that his health will not suffer from this latest ordeal. Please also intercede for Farshid as his foot heals, praying that his recovery will be swift and complete. Also remember in prayer the prison guards in Iran's jails...that they may seek justice and pursue peace, ultimately coming to faith in Jesus Christ.

  • Current Ministry Fund

    By funding television broadcasts, VOMC is making it possible for a vast audience of viewers to be reached throughout Iran with the "Good News" of Jesus' love via satellite.

    Project Fund: Underground Church

  • Country Information

    Designation
    Persecuted

    Population
    87,590,873 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity
    Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes

    Religion (%)
    Islam (98.5), Christian (0.7), Baha'i (0.3), agnostic (0.3), other (0.2)

    Leader
    Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (1989)

    Government type
    Theocratic republic

    Legal system
    Religious legal system based on secular and Islamic law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Iran

    As the Gospel message goes forth over the airwaves, may the growth of the church continue to multiply despite persecution. Pray that the Iranian government will be open to change, allowing full rights and protection for its non-Muslim citizens as well. In the meantime, may those who are forced to flee the country find safe refuge and help so they can live in peace and worship the Lord with freedom.

Iran News

  • Armenian Christian Faces Ten-Year Sentence
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Photo: Article18

    Hakop Gochumyan and his wife Elisa are citizens of Armenia who went to Iran for vacation in August 2023. While the Christian couple and their two children were having dinner at a friend's house, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the property. The authorities took the Christian family to the home of Elisa's grandmother, where the believers had been staying, and proceeded to search the residence. During the raid, Christian books and other personal belongings were confiscated. The couple was then taken to Evin Prison where they faced interrogation and intense psychological torture.

  • Esmaeil Narimanpour Sentenced to Prison
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Photo: Article18

    On Christmas Eve of 2023, Esmaeil Narimanpour was apprehended by security forces. The Iranian follower of Jesus was charged with "acting against national security by communicating with Christian 'Zionist' organizations." As of April 30th, he was released on bail after spending more than four months in detention. For more details relating to his case, see these previously posted reports.

  • Detained Christian Convert Released on Bail
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Photo: Article 18

    Christian convert Esmaeil Narimanpour was detained at his home on Christmas Eve in 2023. When his family members attempted to inquire about his situation, they were subjected to interrogation by security forces for several hours. For more details on this incident, go to this page.

  • Ebrahim Firouzi Dies of Heart Attack
    Ebrahim Firouzi
    Ebrahim Firouzi
    Photo: Article18

    Ebrahim Firouzi, an Iranian convert who was arrested several times for his Christian activities, unexpectedly passed away on February 20th from a heart attack. The Christian man's body was found in his home by his brother, who went to check on the believer after not hearing from him for a few days. Ebrahim was only 37 years old.