Fatemeh Bakhteri has begun a one-year prison sentence in the infamous Evin Prison because she refuses to renounce her faith in Christ. Fatemeh (also known as Ailar) was first informed of her sentence for "acting against national security" in September 2018.
In an appeal hearing this past January, Fatemeh and co-defendant Saheb Fadaie were pressured by presiding judges to renounce their faith, which they refused to do. The decision upholding the verdict was announced in May, and Fatemeh presented herself to the prison in Tehran on August 31st. Saheb was already serving a ten-year sentence for his work in establishing a house church. To learn more about the persecution of Christians in Iran, go to our country report.
Continue to remember the many in Iran who are being imprisoned for merely refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, including Fatemeh and Saheb. Praise God for the ongoing strengthening of the Holy Spirit, who is not only serving as their Advocate, but also enabling these Christians to stand firm and not deny their Lord. Also pray for their safety and well-being -- especially those who, like Fatemeh, are serving time in the notorious Evin prison.
