NEWS ALERT: Tortured Iran Pastor Facing Execution, Christians say
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 (5:02 am)
By Worthy News Chief International Correspondent Stefan J. Bos
Reverend Wilson Issavi, 65, is threatened with execution, Christians say.
TEHRAN, IRAN (Worthy News)-- The detained Assyrian pastor of an evangelical church in Iran has been tortured and told he may be executed for converting Muslims to Christianity and related charges, his wife and Christians with close knowledge about his situation said.
State Security agents detained Reverend Wilson Issavi, 65, of the Evangelical Church of Karmanshah on February 2 in a friend's home in the city of Isfahan, some 340 kilometers (212 miles) south of the capital Tehran, reported the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) which has close contacts with Iranian Christians.
The pastors' wife, Medline Nazanin, said in published remarks seen by Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife that that he had "visible marks of torture" when she visited him in prison.
Her claims could not immediately be verified, but several rights groups and former Iranian prisoners have complained about abuses in detention centers.
Iranian officials are not known to have commented on the case.
"DEATH SENTENCE"
Nazanin was reportedly told by prison authorities that her husband is accused of "performing baptism" and "converting Muslims to Christianity" and is "awaiting his trial and his death sentence".
His detention came as news emerged that on February 28, security forces also raided the house of Hamid Shafiee and his wife, Reyhaneh Aghajari, two of Isfahan's known house-church leaders.
The couple was arrested and taken to an unknown location and a number of their personal belongings including books and compact disks were seized by the agents, Christians said.
In recent months, under government's pressure, the Assemblies of God Church had to stop Friday evening meetings and the Assyrian Pentecostal church of 'Shahre-Ara' in Tehran was forced to close its doors, according to church groups familiar with these cases.
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS
Other evangelical oriented Christians have also been detained in the past weeks in the Isfahan area and other towns and cities, reported International Christian Concern Concern, one of several rights groups investigating the plight of Christians in Iran.
Under Iran's strict interpretation of Islam, "apostasy" can carry a death penalty and at least a long prison term.
Church organizations say authorities are cracking down on Christians in Iran, especially targeting those converting from Islam to Christianity.
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- Iran Christian Women May Face Execution On Apostasy Charge
- NEWS ALERT: Christian Women Still Detained In Iran After Reporter’s Release
- Iran Christians Pray And Fast Amid New Crackdown
- NEWS ALERT: Iran Forces Raid Pre-Christmas Meeting; Leaders Detained
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{{{ Under Iran’s strict interpretation of Islam, “apostasy” can carry a death penalty and at least a long prison term. }}}
A Very Very Very Long Time Indeed!
“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:47-48
And Their Cries Carry To The Very Throne Of Almighty God
“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” Psalms 34:14-17
So Repent And Be Blessed Beloved
“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.Joel 2:12-13
Be Very Very Very Blessed
“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” Joel 2:30-32
Love, Joe
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
The Record
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life;
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe
on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:11-13
Yes!
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21
God Bless our precious Iranian brothers and sisters. The underground Church in Iran marches on! Outnumbered and “outgunned”, yet strong in Christ. May God give great strength and endurance to pastor Issavi and his wife, as well as to Hamid Shafiee and his wife.
Certainly the Iranaian authorities will crack down on converts from Islam to Christianity. What would happen if ex-Islamists start giving testimony to the power of Jesus to forgive, save, and transform their lives? They would not be able to contain it.
…as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships, and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit, and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 6:4-10
Dear Loved ones in the Lord,
We send you our best regards,hoping that it will get you in the best of health and rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord.
We have highly appreciated your message.
With kindest regards and due respect.
Wilfed Abuga Michieka,
Kisii-Kenya-East-Africa.
God bless Pastor Assavi and his wife and family, also to Hamid Shafiee and his wif, and all brothers and sisters and their families in a country in need of God. Our prayers are definitely with you and I will make sure our church will keep you on a prayer list. We will pray a deliverance like Paul and Silas. Justkeep praising the Lord for the testimony you are giving the world for our Lord Jesus Christ.
My heart,my love and prayers are with you all and I knw great reward will be given you all through this persecution and our Lord Jesus Christ will get the glory.
With my highest respect,and love,
Reverend Susan Hubbard
Spiritflow Ministries
Tulsa, Oklahoma
There is no one reverend but our Lord Jesus
Christ. I do not like to see others who place the title upon themselves of reverend.
We know that many Christians will go through persecution because they refuse to take the mark of the beast with that being refusing to keep all of the commandments including the 4th, to keep the Seventh day hole. Many desecrate the Sabbath by choice when they know that god only sanctified the seventh day. The world must get back to keeping all of the commandments or receive the mark.We pray for all missionaries in the world who daily sacrifice for His name’s sake. Many have not yet heard the name of Jeux but there is means for this to come about and then, our Lord will come. Come, quickly, Lord Jesus, as we keep looking up. god bless .