Update: Christians released

11 February 2009

Jamal Ghalishorani
and Nadereh Jamali
Photos from Compass Direct

Iranian Christians who were arrested in Tehran on January 21 (click here for more) have been released from detention, according to a February 9 report from Compass Direct. Jamal Ghalishorani and his wife, Nadereh Jamali, were recently released on bail. Local Christians are fearful that the couple will be charged with apostasy, which could potentially carry the punishment of execution. Another believer who was arrested along with the couple, Hamik Khachikian, was released without charges after a week in detention.

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

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.