- 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
PersecutedPopulation
87,590,873 (2023 est.)Ethnicity
Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribesReligion (%)
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 republicLegal system
Religious legal system based on secular and Islamic lawSource: 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.
Select a Region
Iran News
-
Christian Convert Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison
Christians in Iran.
Photo: VOMCA Christian convert identified as Toomaj Aryan-Kia has been sentenced to ten years in prison for allegedly committing the following offenses: 1) "propaganda"; 2) collaborating with the "hostile governments" of Israel, the United Kingdom and United States; and 3) holding a membership with "anti-regime groups." Along with administering the recently applied prison sentence, Judge Mostafa Narimani banned the Christian man from having any affiliations with a group for an additional two years following his release. Although Toomaj has appealed the sentence, his request for a retrial was denied.
-
Imprisoned Christians Released!
Pastor Anooshavan Avedian and Mehdi "Yasser" Akbari
Photos: Article 18With thankfulness to God for His faithfulness, we are pleased to announce that the following two believers, both of whom were imprisoned for their faith in Iran, have been released during recent days:
-
Christian Woman Threatened with Second Conviction
Evin Prison, where Laleh is being held.
Photo: Flickr / sbzphoto (cc)
After living abroad for a period of time, Laleh Saati returned to her home country of Iran in 2017 to care for her elderly parents. However, in February 2024, Laleh was arrested because she had converted to Christianity while living in Malaysia. This Iranian follower of Jesus was sentenced to two years in prison for "acting against national security by connecting with 'Zionist' Christian organizations." For more details on her case, see this report.
-
Armenian Christian Faces Ten-Year Sentence
Hakop Gochumyan
Photo: Article18Hakop Gochumyan and his wife Elisa are citizens of Armenia who went to Iran for vacation in August 2023. While the Christian couple and their two children were having dinner at a friend's house, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the property. The authorities took the Christian family to the home of Elisa's grandmother, where the believers had been staying, and proceeded to search the residence. During the raid, Christian books and other personal belongings were confiscated. The couple was then taken to Evin Prison where they faced interrogation and intense psychological torture.
