Israel Group Campaigns Against Messianic Jews, Missionaries
A hard-line Jewish ultra-Orthodox group in Israel has launched a campaign against Christian missionaries and Jewish Christians, known as Messianic Jews, who they view as a security threat.
Christian Persecution – Middle East
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s Death Sentence Upheld by Iranian Supreme Court
An Iranian pastor, convicted of apostasy and sentenced to death, may have only hours or days to live, according to a US-based Christian ministry acquainted with the facts of his case.
Iran Official Claims House Churches receive annual donations of $50K
The general director of comparative religious studies in Iran claimed the enemies of Islam donate approximately $50,000 a year to Iranian house churches that often have memberships of only 15-20 members.
Middle East Christians facing ‘extremist atrocities’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, warned that the vacuum left by failed autocratic regimes was being filled by extremists who have turned the Arab Spring into a “very anxious time” for Christians.
Prisoner for Christ; An Iranian Christian Rejoices in Suffering
No country in the Middle East has seen more Christians imprisoned in 2011 than in Iran. A recent report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide revealed that 254 Christians were arrested in more than thirty cities across the country since June 2010.
Yemen Sees Second Anniversary Of Kidnapping Christians
Sunday, June 12, marked the second anniversary of the kidnappings of nine Christian foreigners in Yemen by suspected Muslim militants, but German and British investigators “were understood” to have ended “their active search” for those still missing, advocacy group Middle East Concern (MEC) said.
Concerns Grow Over “Tortured” Iran Prisoner Fathi
The fate of an Iranian Christian prisoner remained unclear Friday, June 10, nearly nine months after he was detained by security forces as part of a reported government crackdown on devoted Christians in this strict Islamic nation.
Iranian Persecution Increases Christianity’s Appeal among Muslims
An increase in the arrest of Iranians converting from Islam reveals an abundant harvest resulting from evangelism by clandestine house churches in the Islamic state, according to Iranian Christian leaders.
Iran Court Acquits 11 Evangelical Christians
Eleven members of one of Iran’s largest evangelical house church movements, who were charged with ‘action against the order of the country’ and drinking alcohol, have been acquitted by an Iranian court, Worthy News learned Friday, May 20.
Massive “Christian Revival” in Middle East’s Most Restrictive Nation
Thousands of Christians have participated in the first known “Christian Revival” meeting in one of the most restrictive Islamic countries of the Middle East, Worthy News established.
Iran Releases Jailed Evangelicals; Others Detained
Iran has released three Christians who were detained last year during Christian gatherings, but concerns remain over the whereabouts of a Dutch-Iranian believer, rights activists confirmed Friday, May 6.
Iran Christians Facing Trial For “Activities Against Order”
There was international concern Tuesday, May 3, over the situation of 11 members of one of Iran’s largest evangelical house churches amid reports they face a trial for “activities against the Order”, and for drinking alcohol.
Baghdad Church Bombing Injures 7
A roadside bomb exploded near the rear entrance of a Catholic church in Iraq’s capital Baghdad after Easter Mass Sunday, April 24, injuring at least seven people, Christians said.
Saudi Arabia Jails House Church Christians (Exclusive)
Two Indian Christians of a thriving Pentecostal house church in Saudi Arabia have been moved from pre-trial detention to a prison in the Saudi capital Ryadh where they are “forbidden to pray or read the Bible” and “suffer of a lack of food and medical attention,” an elder of the church has told Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife.
Iran Again Adjourns Blasphemy Trial
An Iranian court has once again adjourned a trial of Christians of a large evangelical “house” church movement who potentially face the death penalty for “blasphemy” against Islam, trial observers said Wednesday, April 13.
NEWS ALERT: Iran Adjourns Blasphemy Trial Over Lack Of Evidence
An Iranian court has given prosecutors a week to prove that five Christians of a large evangelical house church denomination are guilty of blasphemy, which carries the death penalty in Iran, a senior church official told Worthy News and its affiliated news partner BosNewsLife Wednesday, April 6.
Iran Christians Face Blasphemy Trial; Death Sentence Possible
Five detained members of one of Iran’s largest house church movements were to face a trial Monday, April 5, on charges of “blasphemy” which carries the death penalty in this strict Islamic nation, a church representative told Worthy News.
Concern Over Whereabouts Iranian Christians
There was concern Tuesday, March 29, about the whereabouts of three detained Iranian house church Christians after Iranian security forces raided a worship service, Iranian Christians said.
Iran Secretly Executes Jewish-Armenian Couple; Christians Concerned
Iran has secretly executed a Jewish-Armenian couple and three other persons, raising concerns about other religious minority prisoners in the strict Islamic nation, Iranian Christians and rights activists confirmed Sunday, March 27.
Saudi Arabia Jails Indian Christians For “Proselytizing”
Two Indian Christian men working in Saudi Arabia were behind bars Tuesday, March 22, after they were sentenced to 45 days imprisonment for allegedly trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, rights activists said.