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Iran

• Update: Iranian Christians released

  Mahmood Matin-Azad Photo fromCompass Direct

  Iranian Christians Mahmood Matin-Azad and Arash Basirat have been released, according to a September 30 report from Adn Kronos International. Azad and Basirat were arrested on May 15 (click here for more), but the tribunal has ruled that the charges brought against them are invalid. Azad and Basirat are the first two Christians to be released after a trial. On other occasions, Iranian converts were typically released after a few weeks or months in jail.

  A law presently working its way through the Iranian parliament that would mandate the death penalty as punishment for apostasy is currently still under review by the Council of Guardians.

• Update: Iran's parliament votes in favour of punishing apostasy with death

  Mahmood Matin-Azad Photo fromCompass Direct

  On September 9, Iran's parliament voted in favour of a draft law that would mandate the death penalty for those convicted of apostasy, a charge frequently brought against Christians in the country. If this law passes all stages of Iran's legislative process, Mahmood Matin-Azad and Arash Basirat, who were recently charged with apostasy (click here for more information), could be sentenced to death. Under current Iranian law, apostasy is a capital offence but the judge is free to decide the penalty.
• Iranian house church leader and wife die after police raid

  According to reports from Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN), two elderly Christians, Abbas Amiri and his wife, Sakineh Rahnama, have died as a consequence of a police raid on a church meeting that was being conducted in their home on July 17. The couple had made their home available for the believers of the town to gather and to worship the Lord. According to FCNN, on July 17, the meeting was raided and several believers arrested. Abbas Amiri was attacked and beaten up by plain clothes security officers. Due to his old age and the extent of his injuries, he died at 4:30 p.m. on July 30 at a hospital in the city of Isfahan.

  Tragically, a few days later, Amiri's wife, Sakineh Rahnama, who was also physically assaulted by security officers during the raid, died on August 3 in the city of Masjid-Sleiman. Local Christians blame her death on the combination of injuries she suffered and stress from her husband's death. When the family tried to hold a memorial service at the Amiri home, Iranian authorities told the family's relatives that they had no permission to conduct any kind of memorial or funeral services and that they had to leave the city immediately. When Rahnama's son got into an argument with the police, they punched and kicked him. Rahnama was buried on August 4 next to her beloved husband with family and friends in attendance.

  Pray for the family of this couple as they grieve their loss. Pray for courage for local believers as they continue to serve the Lord despite harassment and arrest.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Iran, go to the Iran Country Report.

• Iran
  

  Iran

  The Islamic Revolution of 1979, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, affected Iran more than any other event in modern history. It led to the establishment of the world's only country governed by an Islamic theocracy, now 40 years old. Today, many of those who committed their lives to Islamic rule are filled with despair. Yet, this disillusionment has opened new doors for the Gospel, which is sweeping across the nation via satellite TV and the Internet, as well as growing house church movements. Even so, the government continues its attempts to thwart this move of God.

  Life for Christians:

  The Iranian government is among the most oppressive regimes in the world. It is illegal to leave Islam, and Christians face the constant threat of imprisonment and being falsely charged with "acting against national security." Known followers of Christ are often evicted from rented homes, routinely fired from their jobs, and then experience difficulties finding new employment. Many gather in secret fellowships and receive teaching through Christian media that's either been broadcast via satellite television or smuggled into the country. Several Christians are currently imprisoned, and many others under house arrest are awaiting sentencing. In spite of this persecution, Iran has one of the fastest growing church movements in the world -- a growing underground church that is asking for your prayers and critical resources like Bibles and discipleship materials.

• Imprisoned Iranian Christian ''Temporarily'' Released

  Mohsen Namvar (44), an Iranian Christian who was arrested in his home in Tehran on May 31 (click here for more details), was released "temporarily" on June 26, according to a July 3 report from Compass Direct. Namvar was badly beaten while detained. Upon his release, he was treated for a fever and high blood pressure and his body appeared to be in shock. Local Christians believe that authorities may have released him out of fear that he would die in prison.

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Iran, go to theIran Country Report.

• Iranian Christian Arrested

  An Iranian Christian who has been conducting Bible studies in his home for many years and has been actively involved in itinerant evangelism is being held in police custody without charge, according to a May 22 report from Compass Direct. Ali Kaboli (51) converted to Christianity as a teenager and has been serving in lay ministry for decades.  Over the years, he has been repeatedly arrested, threatened and interrogated and has faced travel restrictions and an arson attack on his home but has remained undeterred.

  On May 2, secret police arrested him in his carpentry workship in Gorgan. With the exception of one brief telephone call, he has been refused contact with any visitors since his arrest. Since his arrest, several of the Christians who attended Bible studies in his home have been questioned by police.

  Though he has not yet been charged, Kaboli faces the possibility of prosecution for holding "illegal" religious meetings in his home. He could also be charged under Iran's apostasy laws for converting from Islam, even though it took place thirty-three years ago. Kaboli is married with five grown children.

  Pray that Ali will know the peace and joy of the Lord during his time of isolation and imprisonment (Philippians 4:7). Pray for strength for his family and members of the church. Pray for Christians throughout Iran who are facing opposition for their faith.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Iran,click here.Read Glenn Penner's weblogs on May 19 and 20 on reports that Iran plans to impose dress codes on non-Muslims.

• Update: Iranian Prisoner Pressured to Convert to Islam

  Iranian lay pastor, Hamid Pourmand remains in a Tehran prison, convicted of deceiving the Iranian Army about his conversion to Christianity in 1980.  He was sentenced to three years in prison and was dismissed from the army.  According to Middle East Concern, Pourmand is facing pressure in the prison to return to Islam.  His family is without any source of income at this time, apart from support from other Christians.  His oldest son, Immanual, is presently studying abroad.  His wife, Arlet, and their youngest son, David, have moved to Tehran. According to Compass Direct, Pourmand has been allowed two home visits since the end of June.  Continue to pray for Pourmand and his family.  Pray for his soon release.

• Iran Update: Lay Pastor Acquitted

  The Voice of the Martyrs welcomes the news of the acquittal of lay pastor Hamid Pourmand on charges of apostasy.  While Pourmand continues to serve a three year sentence for allegedly deceiving the military by not revealing that he was a Christian, an Islamic court judge has acquitted him on the charges of apostasy, which could have resulted in the death sentence.  During the May 28 court hearing, the judge reportedly told Pourmand, "I don’t know who you are, but apparently the rest of the world does."  The judge had received numerous requests from government officials to drop the charges, apparently because of international pressure.  Instead of simply dropping the charges, the judge acquitted him saying that he had done nothing wrong under Islamic law. 

• Iranian Pastor to Face Apostasy Charges

  Iranian lay pastor, Hamid Pourmand, is scheduled to appear before an Islamic Sharia court by April 14 at the latest, according to reports received from Iranian Christians.  Pourmand faces charges of apostasy from the Islamic faith, and, if convicted, he will likely be sentenced to death.

  Pourmand converted to Christianity from Islam twenty-five years ago.  Until he was arrested in September 2004, he was a colonel in the Iranian army.  In February he was convicted of deceiving the military by not proclaiming his Christian faith, despite evidence that he had made his beliefs clear.  Non-Muslims are not allowed to serve as military officers in Iran.  Pourmand was sentenced to three years in prison and his wife and two children were left homeless when they were removed from military housing.

  Three other Christian leaders have been convicted of apostasy in the past sixteen years.  Pastor Hussein Soodman was hanged in 1989. Deacon Maher was spared the death penalty by recanting of his faith in 1992. Pastor Mehdi Dibaj was sentenced to death in December 1993, but released after intense international pressure.  He was murdered six months later.

  Pray for that Hamid Pourmand will be spared the death sentence.  Pray that he will stand firm in his faith, knowing the presence of God's Holy Spirit with him.  Pray for comfort and strength for Hamid and his family.

  For more information on the suffering facing Christians in Iran,click here.

• Trial Begins for Iranian Pastor

  For months following Pastor Hamid Pourmand's arrest by Iranian authorities on September 9, there had been little word on his location or condition.  On February 4, Compass Direct reported that Pourmand had finally appeared in court during the last week of January.  His family was also reportedly able to visit him in a military prison on February 3.

  Pourmand, a military officer and Assembly of God pastor, faces charges of deception.  Since Christians are not allowed to serve in the Iranian military, he is accused of misleading his superiors as to his religious beliefs.  Pourmand claims to have documentation proving that he was forthcoming with his Christian faith.  He was also informed that he would be transferred back to his home town of Bandar-i Bushehr, where he would face charges of apostasy and proselytizing.  Both are capital offenses in Iran.

   Pray for Pastor Pourmand, his wife and two children during this very challenging time.  Pray for peace and protection for the family, as well as a successful outcome in the trial.

  For more information on persecution of Christians in Iran,click here.