retired Christian school teacher from the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan, Fatemeh Pauki (58), is being denied her pension by the district court of Ouroumieh, according to a May 14 report from Farsi Christian News Network. On March 2, Pauki received a letter from the Ministry of Education stating that her pension income would not be paid to her as of April 5.
In recent years, officials of the Ministry of Information have threatened and detained Pauki. She has been forced to promise that she will not have contact with Christians or attend any Christian meetings and that she will cooperate with the security officials in spying for them. Pauki's late husband, Majid Mahmoodi Tabrizi, a convert to Christianity from Islam, was repeatedly threatened by officials in an attempt to intimidate him into renouncing his faith. He was brutally murdered by unknown assailants in July 2005. His family has since received threatening letters warning them against inquiring further into his death.
Pray that Pauki will stand strong in the face of opposition (1 Peter 5:8-10). Pray that she will take comfort in the care of her heavenly Father.
Learn more about the persecution of believers in Iran.
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.
Ethnicity Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes
Religion (%) Islam (99.6), other, including Christian (0.3), Unspecified (0.2)
Leader President Ebrahim Raisi (2021)
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.
In July 2021, Fariba Dalir was arrested along with five other Christian converts, including her husband-to-be, Soroush. While awaiting trial, all six believers were ultimately released on bail – Fariba on November 18th and the others in October. While out on bail, Fariba and Soroush were married.
Last month, it was reported that the prison sentence for Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh was to be reviewed by the Supreme Court of Iran (read more). Naser was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to ten years in prison for allegedly "acting against national se
On June 24th of 2016, 30 intelligence police agents raided an engagement party near Tehran, Iran. Everyone who attended the celebration was detained, including three visiting Christians from Azerbaijan. Most were released from custody, except for the
In the Persecution & Prayer Alert that VOMC published on September 30th, it was reported that three Christians had been arrested while attending a prayer meeting in Rasht, Iran, on September 5th. The report had mentioned that two of the believers were r
retired Christian school teacher from the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan, Fatemeh Pauki (58), is being denied her pension by the district court of Ouroumieh, according to a May 14 report from Farsi Christian News Network. On March 2, Pauki received a letter from the Ministry of Education stating that her pension income would not be paid to her as of April 5. 
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