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2019-09-19

• Video Leads to Threats

  

  A video leaked to social media has forced a pastor into hiding. Sukdev Giri, pastor of Trinity Fellowship church has received death threats from Hindu militants. Family and friends have also faced threatening phone calls.

  In March, Pastor Sukdev spoke at the International Christian Media Workers Summit. In his presentation, he shared about his journey to Christ and discussed the various belief systems in Nepal. While the interview was recorded to video, access was restricted due to its sensitive nature. However, one unidentified woman reposted the video to YouTube on August 11th, leading to a flood of hostile comments. The video received over 750,000 views before it was removed.

• Six Uyghur Christians Arrested

  

  Six Christians of Uyghur descent were recently imprisoned in China's northwestern province of Xinjiang. All were charged with illegal preaching, gathering, and spreading harmful books. They were each sentenced to at least five years in prison. Detained were Mehmet Abdulla, Huji Abdurehim, Maimaiti Yimingjiang, Adil Jan, a Christian doctor with the last name of Rakhman, and a man identified only as "Brother Adil." Some of these believers are new converts to Christ.

• Imprisoned for Not Denying Christ

  

  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.