Ethnic Armenian and Assyrian Orthodox Churches in Iran may exist in peace
as long as they do not proselytise (i.e. seek converts). It is illegal to
preach Christianity in Farsi (the Persian language) just as it is illegal
for Muslims to reject Islam (apostasy). The penalty for apostasy is death.
So when Muslim Farsi-speaking Iranians convert to Christianity, they must
meet and worship in illegal ‘underground’ fellowships.

Early on 25 & 26 December 2010 armed plainclothed agents from the infamous
Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) raided the homes of
Christians known to be converts from Islam and/or active in witnessing to
Muslims. As well as confiscating CDs, Bibles, religious books, computers
and personal documents, they arrested 25 Christians. Sixteen other
Christians listed for arrest were not home at the time of the raids and
remain unaccounted for. Further to this there are unconfirmed reports that
as many as 50 other mostly young believers have since been arrested.
Amongst those detained are five married couples, one of whom has been
separated from their two-year-old child and another from their breast-
feeding infant. The detained Christians are being interrogated and
coerced. Eleven have since been released after signing documents
promising to refrain from Christian activity. The detained believers are
virtually all converts from Islam.

The governor of Tehran province, Morteza Tamadon, describes Protestants
and evangelicals as ‘corrupt and deviant’ and also accuses them of
conducting an ‘enemy cultural invasion’. ‘The leaders of this movement,’
he declared, ‘have been arrested in Tehran province and more will be
arrested in the near future. Just like the Taliban, who have inserted
themselves into Islam like a parasite, [evangelicals] have crafted a
movement with Britain’s backing in the name of Christianity. But their
conspiracy was unveiled quickly and the first blows were delivered to
them.’

In June 2010 Protestant pastor Youcef Nadrkhani and his wife Fatemah were
arrested in the northern city of Rasht. According to court documents,
Nadrkhani has been convicted of apostasy, organising meetings,
proselytising, establishing a house church, baptising people, and openly
expressing his distaste for Islam. For these crimes he has been sentenced
to death while Fatemah has been sentenced to life in prison. The couple
have two young children. In September 2010 a court of appeals upheld the
death sentence, which is being delayed to give MOIS more time to try to
coerce Pastor Nadrkhani to return to Islam. Pastor Behrouz Sadegh-
Khanjani, also arrested in June 2010, has likewise been indicted for
apostasy and similar ‘national security’ offences. Nine other believers
arrested with him, including his wife, have been released but he has not
yet been sentenced.

In October 2010 Iran’s intelligence minister said his agents had
discovered hundreds of underground church groups, including 200 in the
Muslim holy city of Mashad. According to iranfocus.com, Iran’s Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in an October speech that Iran’s
enemies were behind the underground churches. The director of the Toronto-
based Iranian Christian News Agency, Saman Kamvar states, ‘Since officials
gave these comments, pressure has increased on our community, and the
crackdowns have taken a more organised shape.’

It would be a mistake to think only politically about this as it is
essentially a spiritual battle.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL:

* demonstrate his supremacy over a belligerent regime that increasingly
regards itself as supreme (see Isaiah 37:21-29 where God pronounces
judgement on Sennacherib, king of Assyria); may God’s hand, God’s glory
and God’s supremacy be evident to all.

* continue his powerful work inside Iran and amongst the Iranian diaspora
by his irrepressible Holy Spirit, graciously drawing Iranians out of
darkness and despair into light and joy; may revival erupt,
transforming the landscape.

* restrain violent hands, shield believers, provide for families, bring
the schemes of the wicked to nothing (Psalm 146:9) and may what was
meant for evil produce glorious fruit.

* flood the hearts of all Iranian Christians — particularly those
detained, threatened and imperilled — with the supernatural peace that
passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

~~~~

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
———————————————————–

IRAN HITS OUT AT APOSTASY: 70 ARRESTED

It is illegal in Iran to share Christianity with Muslims or preach the
gospel in Farsi, the Persian language. It is also illegal for a Muslim to
reject Islam (apostasy). Farsi-speaking Iranian Muslim converts to
Christianity must worship therefore in illegal ‘underground’ fellowships.
In September 2010 an appeals court upheld a death sentence against Pastor
Youcef Nadrkhani, convicted of apostasy. The sentence is being delayed to
give intelligence agents more time to try to coerce Pastor Nadrkhani to
renounce Christ and return to Islam. His wife has been sentenced to life
imprisonment. They have two small children. In a massive crack-down some
70 believers have been arrested by the authorities since Christmas Day.
Most are young converts from Islam. They are being interrogated and
coerced. Please pray.

——————–

We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s
blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’ <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>.