Tag: Iran

Iranian Christian women describe ‘world’s most brutal prison’

November 29, 2017 Iran Abdol-Ali Pourmand, Evin Prison, House churches, Iran, Khuzestan, Maryam Naghash Zargaran, Maryam Rostampour, Marziyeh Amirizadeh, Mohammed Ali Torabi, Prisons, Women

Two Iranian Christian women who once faced the threat of execution for their faith have described the conditions inside Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, calling it “the most brutal prison in the world”. Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh, who spent eight months there in 2009/10, now live in the US, where . . . Read More

Iran: Christian convert loses appeal against 10-year sentence for ‘missionary activities’

November 24, 2017 Iran Bahram Nasibov, Converts, Eldar Gurbanov, House churches, Iran, Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh, Religious freedom, Tehran, Yusif Farhadov

An Iranian convert to Christianity has had his 10-year prison sentence upheld after losing his appeal. Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh was sentenced in May alongside three Azerbaijanis. All four men were given 10-year sentences for “missionary activities” and “actions against national security” in Iran. However, the three Azerbaijanis – Eldar Gurbanov, . . . Read More

Iranian Christian convert released on bail days after threat of ‘indefinite’ incarceration

November 23, 2017 Iran Abdol-Ali Pourmand, Converts, Dezful, House churches, Iran, Islamic extremism, Khuzestan, Mohammed Ali Torabi

An Iranian convert to Christianity arrested on unspecified charges has been released on bail just days after his family was told he would be detained indefinitely. Mohammed Ali Torabi, 39, was ordered to pay 200 million tomans (around US $57,000) to secure his release from prison in Ahvaz, capital of Iran’s . . . Read More

Iranian Christian converts ‘to be detained indefinitely’

November 22, 2017 Iran Abdol-Ali Pourmand, Converts, Dezful, House churches, Iran, Mohammed Ali Torabi

Two Iranian converts to Christianity arrested last month in the western city of Dezful have been told they will be kept in prison until further notice. Mohabat News reports that Abdol-Ali Pourmand, 38, and Mohammed Ali Torabi, 39, who are both members of the same ‘house church’ – Payam-e Aramesh (Message of . . . Read More

To flee or not to flee?

November 17, 2017 Civil War, Converts, Egypt, IDPs, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Middle East, Migrants, Refugees, Syria

It is sometimes said that the Middle East is being denuded of Christians. Against this, church leaders throughout the Middle East urge Christians to remain in their country, or, where conflict makes that impossible, then to at least stay in the region. The emigration of Christians from the Middle East . . . Read More

Iran: appeal due for Christians given 10 years for ‘missionary activities’

November 9, 2017 Iran Bahram Nasibov, Converts, Eldar Gurbanov, House churches, Iran, Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh, Religious freedom, Tehran, Yusif Farhadov

The appeal hearings will take place on Sunday (12 November) for an Iranian and three Azerbaijani Christians sentenced in May to 10 years in prison for “missionary activities” and “actions against national security” in Iran. The three Azerbaijanis – Eldar Gurbanov, Yusif Farhadov and Bahram Nasibov – were allowed to . . . Read More

Iran MPs want to change law so people can only vote for candidates from their own religion

November 3, 2017 Iran Armenians, Assyrians, Ayatollah Khomeini, Elections, Iran, Minorities, Sepanta Niknam, Sharia, Yazd, Zoroastrians

Conservative MPs within Iran’s parliament are proposing that Iranians should only be allowed to vote for members of their own religious group. In Iran, where 90-95% of the population is Shia Muslim, this will essentially mean that it will be impossible for members of religious minorities to be elected. The . . . Read More

Iran: another Christian convert ‘arrested, beaten and told to renounce faith’

October 23, 2017 Iran Abdol-Ali Pourmand, Armenians, Assyrians, Converts, Dezful, Hassan Rouhani, Iran, Khuzestan, Mohammed Ali Torabi

An Iranian convert to Christianity has been arrested in the western city of Dezful, the fourth such convert arrested in the city in recent weeks. Abdol-Ali Pourmand was arrested on Saturday (21 October) after a raid on his home two days before, during which materials including Bibles and Christian CDs . . . Read More

Iran: arrests of Christian converts continue

October 17, 2017 Iran Converts, Dezful, Iran, Mohammed Ali Torabi, Tehran

Five more Iranian converts to Christianity have been arrested in recent weeks, three of whom are still being detained. Church leader Mohammed Ali Torabi, 39, was arrested on 10 October in the western city of Dezful, and is being held in an unknown location. Two other converts were arrested alongside . . . Read More

Hungary’s response to urgent need to help persecuted Christians ‘stay in their homelands’

October 13, 2017 Global News -- No Particular Country Ankawa, Ayatollah Khomeini, Bartella, Erbil, Genocide, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Kurds, Middle East, Nineveh Plains, Qaraqosh, Soviet Union, Syria, Tel Skuf, Viktor Orbán

Referring to his country’s experience of oppression during the Soviet Union era, the Hungarian Prime Minister has once again explained why his government has been the first – and so far the only – government to specifically address the persecution of Christians around the world. Yesterday (12 October) he pledged . . . Read More

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