Pastor freed on bail; others remain imprisoned

VOM-USA 15 September 2011

Pastor Matthias Haghnejad
Photo: Present Truth Ministries

A pastor arrested and charged with blasphemy against Islam was released on bail on August 27. Pastor Matthias Haghnejad was arrested 10 days earlier while making a pastoral visit in the city of Rasht, Iran. He was held until his family paid $30,000 in bail. While Pastor Matthias is currently free, he still faces a trial on the blasphemy charge.

Earlier this year, Matthias and 10 other church members were detained and charged with partaking in activities against the Iranian order. They were later acquitted. At least eight other Iranian Christian leaders are currently in prison.

Pray that Pastor Matthias will be fully acquitted of the charges. Pray also for Youcef Nadarkhani, another imprisoned pastor, and for all Iranian Christians who have faced increased pressure from the government. Pray that suffering Iranian believers will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christ-likeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4).

For more information about the persecuted Church in Iran, go to the Iran Country Report.

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.