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When threatened with imprisonment for his faith in 2013, a Christian convert named Mojtaba Ahmadi was forced to flee from Iran. Upon his arrival in neighbouring Türkiye, he applied for refugee status. However, despite the fact that he stayed more than a decade within the country, Mojtaba had never been interviewed about his case and, therefore, did not receive official protection as a refugee.
On January 29th, Mojtaba was suddenly arrested by immigration authorities and accused of leaving Düzce, his present city of residence, without authorization. He denies ever having left Düzce. In addition to having his identification card confiscated, officials took him to the Ayvacik Geri Gönderme Merkezi detention centre. If deported, the arrested believer may have to spend at least three years in prison.
Before escaping to Türkiye, Mojtaba previously faced months of detention and torture in Iran for allegedly "spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran." While the church in Iran is growing rapidly, believers like Mojtaba risk the possibility of imprisonment and torture. Find more reports on the persecution of Christians in Iran here.
Over the years, officials in Türkiye have also become increasingly antagonistic towards Christian ministry workers. According to one source, individuals seeking asylum are regularly sent to deportation camps, seemingly arbitrarily. To review reports specifically addressing persecution in Türkiye, go to our country profile.
- Pray for God's swift intervention so that Mojtaba will be released from detention and not deported to Iran.
- In the meantime, may he officially gain refugee status and protection in Türkiye.
- Please prayerfully remember the many other believers in Iran who have been detained without cause, as well as those experiencing increasing pressures in Türkiye.
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