Two Christian converts among the latest believers to be imprisoned in Iran.
TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)– Two Christian converts are already over 50 days in Tehran’s feared Evin prison as part of a crackdown on spreading Christianity in heavily Islamic Iran and it remains unclear when they will be released, BosNewsLife learned Monday, March 4.
Shahrzad Y., a 25-year-old woman, and a man named as Sam S. 27, were both detained on January 9 after security forces raided their homes in western Tehran, Iranian Christians said.
The two university students were reportedly charged with the “formation and promotion of house churches and holding gatherings intended for committing crimes.”
Iranian police also confiscated personal belongings including laptops, Christian books and notes, Christian song Compact Disks and cameras, reported Mohabat News, a news agency of Iranian Christians and activists.
Leader: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Population: 75.6 million (450,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Islamic republic
World Watch List Rank: 8
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism/ Dictatorial paranoia
Fearful of the increasing numbers of Christians, particularly in house churches, the authorities closely monitor Christian activities, particularly churches that reach out to Muslims. Evangelism, Bible training and publishing Scriptures in Farsi are illegal. Detentions of Christians are common. Several persecuted Christians were forced to leave their homes or flee the country. Muslim-background believers face most pressure – any Muslim who leaves Islam faces the death penalty. In September 2012 Pastor Nadarkhani was released after three years in prison on charges of apostasy.
Please Pray:
For Pastor Nadharkani and his family as he adjusts to life after prison
For justice for Christian prisoners and lawyers who try to defend them.
Many disillusioned Iranian Muslims are becoming curious about Christianity. Pray that they will find hope in Jesus.
Islam is the official religion and all laws must be consistent with the official interpretation of Islamic law. Of all types of Christianity, believers from a Muslim background face most persecution, as well as Protestant evangelicals. There is relatively less pressure on the historical ethnic Armenian and Assyrian Christian minority, as long as they do not evangelise Muslims.
Ethnic Persians are by definition Muslim, according to the state. Evangelism, Bible training and publishing Scriptures in Farsi are all illegal, yet this has only fuelled the flames of church growth.
Any Muslim who leaves Islam faces the death penalty. The regime’s focus is on those reaching out to converts and even well-established Christian denominations are not safe from harassment. Church activities are closely monitored, members identified and taken note of. In addition, Christians were physically harmed, a number while in jail. The Iranian authorities’ fear of increasing numbers of Christians, particularly in house churches, is based on fact with many disillusioned Iranian Muslims becoming curious about Christianity.
Peanut gallery: The Saudis (World Watch List #2) are at it again… and Ethiopian Christians working in the country are their target… 53 arrested this month.
Nina Shea, the director of the Washington-based Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, told FoxNews.com that the arrests in Dammam are “part of Saudi Arabia’s policy to ban non-Muslim houses of worship and actually hunt down Christians in private homes.”
Saudi Arabia’s Mutaween (Photo: Religious police during a training session in Riyadh September 1, 2007/Ali Jarekji)
What are the Saudis afraid of… if their brand of Islam is so superior to all other religious expression? Or, maybe it isn’t… and they know it wouldn’t survive without their state-sponsored religious Gestapo.
As for Christians living in the country, they won’t get a lot of help from their embassies. Their countries are much too beholden to Arab oil and money to care much about the persecution of their Christian nationals. Politicians’ rebukes are meaningless unless backed up with action. Don’t hold your breath on that happening.
The best we can do is pray for Christian expats living in the country… no small thing. And let the world know that the Saudis are doing to expat Christians in their country.
Ethiopian Orthodox worshipers pray before the traditional Washing of the Feet ceremony at the Ethiopian section of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City April 21, 2011, ahead of Easter. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
Saudi Arabia’s notorious religious police, known as the mutawa, swooped in on a private gathering of at least 53 Ethiopian Christians this month, shutting down their private prayer, and arresting the peaceful group of foreign workers for merely practicing their faith, FoxNews.com has learned.
Peanut Gallery: Sharia law in “paradise”… no place for Christians.
2013, Novemer 13, News from Maldives: “An American citizen linked to the Bangladeshi who was caught bringing books on Christianity written in Dhivehi into the country, has been blacklisted and banned from entering the Maldives. Maldives Customs said that the American, Kevin Thomas Greenson, was blacklisted following the collection of sufficient evidence by the Police of his connection with the Bangladeshi, Jathis Biswas, 44. Jathis Biswas has also been deported, following accusations of spreading other religions in Maldives in cooperation with a group of Maldivians. Customs found 11 books on Christianity with Jathis Biswas, who arrived in Maldives on 27 September 2012 on Sri Lankan Airlines.” (SunOnline)
The Maldivian economy is to a large degree based on tourism.
This is the only country in the world which requires all citizens to be Muslim. [The government does not distinguish between national and expat believers.] Conversion to another faith is prohibited by law and converts face extreme persecution from family and society – often having to leave the country. The authorities exert extensive control on the people to correct any deviation from Islam. There are no church gatherings or buildings. Religion is moving towards Deobandi Islam – the religion of the Taliban, whose mission is to cleanse Islam of all other influences. There are very few indigenous Christians. (Open Doors UK)
Pray:
For the handful of secret believers to grow in the love of God
For young people who seek education outside the islands. Pray that they will receive the gospel and return to share it with their communities
That the translation of the New Testament into the Dhivehi language would be completed.
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Open Doors Background: The Maldives are well-known as a dream destination for holidays. The islands are located in the midst of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by blue water and white beaches stretched out under the blazing sun. This is the picture authorities want to give to the outside world. The harsh attitude the government takes towards all Christian believers is less known, darkening the lovely picture of the country considerably. Continue reading “Please Pray for the Few Christians in Maldives – World Watch List # 6”→
Peanut Gallery: Christian Persecution – Somalia #5 on World Watch List
It is too dangerous for believers to meet openly in this strictly Islamic state. Terrorist groups such as al-Shabaab target converts to Christianity and eliminate them.
Aid workers, Christian or otherwise, require tight security due to the risk of abduction.
The election of a new parliament and president in 2012 created a framework for a more legitimate government. But for Christians the future still looks bleak, as the provisional constitution does not allow for religious freedom. (Population: 9.8 million – a few hundred Christians)
Please Pray:
Al-Shabaab, which is backed by al-Qaeda, remains a serious threat. Pray that its influence will diminish
That Christian radio programmes will bring hope to isolated believers and those who are seeking God
Some of those who have returned to Somalia following the political changes have been exposed to Christianity. Pray this will bring more tolerance towards Christians.
Prayer:Heavenly Father – May your Kingdom come… and your will be done… in Somalia, as it is in heaven. Feed your people and deliver them from evil. Lord Jesus – Come in power to Somalia… break their bondage to sin and death… set them free – may your Word go forth with power accomplishing your Kingdom purposes. Holy Spirit – Move among your people… strengthening, encouraging, protecting them. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Persecution dynamics
Islamic leaders maintain that Somalia remains a strictly Islamic state with no room for Christians. Children attend mandatory Madrasa Islamic classes, people are buried with Islamic burial rights whatever their religion might be, and it is extremely difficult to openly declare faith. It is too dangerous to meet openly and families of converts are fearful that they might be suspected of conversion and risk execution. Continue reading “Please Pray for Christians in Somalia – World Watch List #5”→
The Peanut Gallery 