Iran Detains Dozens Of Christian Converts
More than 50 Christian converts have been detained over the past week in five Iranian cities, and Christians said the number could rise.
Christian Persecution – Middle East
Iran: More than 50 Christians rounded up and detained on unknown charges
In a sudden spike of persecution against Christians in Iran, government authorities arrested and detained more than 50 Christians in five cities across Iran in the last 10 days, Article 18 reports.
Iraq: Persecuted Christians launch TV channel in Syriac language derived from Jesus’ Aramaic
The much-persecuted, tiny Christian community in Iraq has taken the historic step of launching a new public television channel broadcasting only programs conducted in their native Syriac language, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Syriac is an ancient language derived from Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke while He walked the Earth.
Christians in Syria at risk of “genocidal” attacks from NATO member Turkey
Christians in Syria continue to face “genocidal” attacks not only from jihadists inside the country but also from Islamist-affiliated, NATO member Turkey, Algemeiner reports.
Iran: Judge orders release of Christian couple imprisoned for house church activity
In a rare display of justice from Iran’s notoriously corrupt judicial system, an appeals court judge in Tehran overturned the convictions of two Christian leaders who were sentenced to imprisonment for participating in a house church and ordered their release, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Iran executes two men for blasphemy
Amid a spike in the number of executions it has carried out since last year’s nationwide anti-government protests, Iran has just executed two Iranian men charged with blasphemy for insulting Islam and the Islamic prophet Muhammad, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, there are currently more than 150 people imprisoned in Iran for their religious beliefs.
Iran: Christian couple granted a retrial following prison sentence for house church membership
A court in Iran has accepted an application for a retrial by an Iranian Christian couple sentenced to a combined 10 years in prison for being members of a house church, Article 18 reports.
Iran: Historic Assemblies of God church building put up for sale by Islamic regime
A historically significant former Assemblies of God church building in Iran has been put up for sale by the country’s authoritarian Islamic government after first being forcefully closed to its congregation, Article 18 reports.
US ministry is sharing the Gospel with Iranians fleeing to Armenia
A US-based ministry has been able to share the Gospel with Iranians who are open to hearing about Jesus after fleeing the harsh authoritarian Islamic rulers of their country for neighboring democratic Armenia, CBN News reports.
Iran: Pastor still faces 30 lashes and two years in exile after early release from prison
An Iranian pastor who converted to Christianity from Islam has been released after serving five years of a jail term he received for sharing the Gospel with Muslims, but still faces 30 lashes and two years in exile from his home, Article 18 reports.
Iran Releases Church Leader Nadarkhani After Years Behind Bars
An Iranian pastor, who spent most of his time in prison since 2016, has been released as part of a national amnesty issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to commemorate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
Iran: Two Christians pardoned and released from prison
In a rare act of goodwill toward Iran’s Christian community, the Iranian Islamic regime pardoned and released two Christians imprisoned for “acting against national security by organizing house churches and promoting ‘Zionist’ Christianity,” International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The Christians’ release was part of the government’s annual tradition of pardoning prisoners commemorating Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran Releases Another Jailed Christian Convert After Pressure
Iran has released another Christian convert from its notorious prison, just days after another jailed Christian was freed, Christians said Thursday.
Iran: Christians under increased persecution, but church is growing
Christians in Iran have faced even more intense persecution since the Iranian regime began its violent crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests that took off last year – but the Iranian church continues to grow, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Iran: Pastor re-arrested and imprisoned, no reason given
A pastor in Iran who is serving a six-year prison sentence on account of his religious activity was suddenly re-arrested on December 26 while on officially approved leave from his jail, Article 18 reports.
Iran Detains Christian Converts, Prayers Urged
Iranian Christians requested prayers Thursday for Iranian Pastor Abdolreza (Matthias) Haghnejad and his wife, Anahita (Anna) Khademi, after their detention in northern Iran.
Iran: Regime warns Chaldean and Assyrian Christians not to participate in anti-government protests
Christians belonging to the Chaldean Catholic Church and Assyrian Church of the East denominations in Iran have been threatened by state security forces not to join the ongoing nationwide anti-regime protests or even to post support for the uprising on social media, on pain of arrests and persecution, the Christian Post reports.
Iraq: Christian families are leaving in droves
The Chaldean Patriarchate has issued a statement attesting that Iraqi Christians are leaving their country in droves due to compelling sociological and political factors, which include discrimination, Agenzia Fides reports. The Christians of Iraq make up one of the oldest continuous Christian communities in the world; there are an estimated 500,000 Christians still in the country.
Syria: Christians under threat from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terror group
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has stated in a new report that Christians in northwestern Syria are now living under threat from the de facto rule of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a former al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, Christian Today reports.
Two Christians suddenly released from jail after convictions for leading churches
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei unexpectedly ordered the release of two church leaders imprisoned in the notoriously harsh Evin Prison in Tehran a few days after a fire broke out at the jail on October 15, Morningstar News (MSN) reports. Christian advocacy activists have said they do not know the reason for the Supreme Leader’s decision.