Photo: Mohabat News |
Two Christian men, Ebrahim Firouzi and Sevada Aghasar, were recently sentenced to prison because of their Christian faith. The two were charged with "action against national security through collusion and gathering."
Ebrahim, a Christian convert from Islam, who is already serving another sentence in Rajaei-Shahr Prison, was handed an additional five-year prison term. Ebrahim was previously arrested in August of 2013. Prior to that, he had been convicted of several charges -- including propaganda against the Islamic regime, evangelism, contact with anti-Islamic agents abroad, and founding a Christian website, for which he was sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile. (For a previous prayer alert report on Ebrahim, please visit our website.)
Sevada, an Iranian-Armenian Christian who is presently free on bail, was sentenced to five years in prison. The Christian was temporarily released in March of 2014 after enduring six months in Evin Prison. Should the appeal court approve his sentence, Sevada will be returned to prison to serve this new jail term. (You can read more here about his arrest and release.)
Pray that the church in Iran will continue to grow despite the harsh consequences many Christians face for loving and following Jesus. Specifically, may the Lord use His faithful servants, Ebrahim and Sevada, to draw many into relationship with Him, especially the prison guards and other authorities involved in their cases. Please also pray that God will make a way for these men to be released from prison very soon and that He will keep them from harm.