Photos: Article 18
Three Christian converts, including a woman who is pregnant with her first child, have been sentenced to lengthy prison sentences on charges relating to their religious beliefs and worship meetings. The Iranian believers were sentenced by Judge Iman Afshari at a Revolutionary Court on March 8th.
Narges Nasri is 37 years old and halfway through her first pregnancy. She received the stiffest sentence among those of the three accused Christians: ten years for "propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law," five years for membership in an "opposition group," and an additional year for "propaganda against the state." The charges allegedly stem from a social media post that Narges had made.
Abbas Soori likewise received a sentence of ten years for "propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law" and an additional five years for membership in an "opposition group." Abbas had been previously accused of distributing propaganda in 2022. As a result of these former charges, rather than being sentenced to prison, the believer received ten years of "deprivation of social rights," which carries numerous restrictions relating to areas such as employment, health care and education. (For more information on this previous incident, go to this report.) The third Christian sentenced on March 8th was Mehran Shamloui who received a term of eight years for spreading propaganda and 30 months for membership in an "opposition group."
All three followers of Jesus were arrested during concurrent raids on their homes in Tehran on November 3rd. At least ten other Christians were arrested on the same day through coordinated raids across the country. For additional reports on the persecution experienced by our Christian brothers and sisters in Iran, go to our country profile.
- Remember these three believers in your prayers, along with the many other Iranian Christians who are presently being detained because of their faith in Christ, asking that all charges against them will be dropped.
- Pray that our imprisoned Christian brothers and sisters in Iran would rest in the assurance that Christ's presence is abiding with them. As a result, may they experience His sustaining peace, comfort and encouragement.
- Prayerfully ask God to also provide greatly needed comfort to these detained believers' families, friends and fellow church members.
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