Christian Couple Released

Picture from Compass Direct
(used by permission)
Last week's Persecution and Prayer Alert requested prayer for Reza Montazami and Fereshteh Dibaj who were arrested because of their Christian faith on September 26 (click here for the story). We are thankful to report that they were released on bail on October 5 and allowed to return home to their six-year-old daughter, Christine. The couple reports that they were not mistreated during their incarceration. While no formal charges were laid, their case reportedly remains open. Praise God for the release of this couple. Pray that all legal action against them will be dropped.
  • 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.

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Iran News

  • Imprisoned Christian Beaten for Medical Request
    Amir-Ali Minaei is outside.
    Amir-Ali Minaei
    Photo: Article 18

    Amir-Ali Minaei has been held in Tehran's Evin Prison since April 2024. The Christian man is presently serving a 43-month term for "propaganda activities against the regime through establishing a house church."

    Read more...

  • Three Christians Facing Lengthy Prison Sentences
    Abbas Soori, Narges Nasri, and Mehran Shamloui
    Left to right: Abbas Soori, Narges Nasri, and Mehran Shamloui.
    Photos: Article 18

    Three Christian converts, including a woman who is pregnant with her first child, have been sentenced to lengthy prison sentences on charges relating to their religious beliefs and worship meetings. The Iranian believers were sentenced by Judge Iman Afshari at a Revolutionary Court on March 8th.

    Read more...

  • Two Pardoned Pastors Rearrested
    Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Joseph Shahbazian
    Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh (left) and Joseph Shahbazian
    Photo: Article18

    While Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh had been sentenced in 2017 to ten years' imprisonment because of his Christian ministry, he was suddenly pardoned and released in 2022. Similarly, Joseph Shahbazian, a house church leader who had likewise been sentenced to ten years in 2022, was released after just over a year following an appeal of his sentence. More information on Nasser's case is available here.

    Read more...

  • Large Increase in Christian Prison Sentences Last Year
    People are gathered in a large church.
    A church in Iran.
    Photo: Wikimedia / Tasnim News Agency (cc)
     

    According to a recently published report by Article18, at least 96 Christians were sentenced to prison in Iran during 2024 for a combined total of 263 years' imprisonment. This statistic indicates a sixfold increase from the previous year, in which 22 Christians were arrested for a combined total of 43.5 years.

    Read more...

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Iran Videos

 
Special Video Edition - 2024 in Review - Iran
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Iran: Hopelessness Opens The Door To The Gospel
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Iran: Bringing God's Light into a Dark and Oppressive Country
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Iran: Government Sponsors Terrorism and Persecution of Christians
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Iran: Forced to Flee Extreme Persecution
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Iran: Presidential Election Raises Concerns for Christians
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