Iranian Christians are asking the church around the world to intercede for their nation after recent mass protests in dozens of cities, Elam Ministries has reported.
Some 22 people were reportedly killed in clashes during the protests – the largest in the nation since 2009 – and more than 1,000 people have reportedly been arrested. It was reported last week that Iran had deployed units of the Revolutionary Guard to quell the protests which the government now says have dissipated.
Elam Ministries, which supports the Iranian church in a variety of ways, said that while the protests were initially centred around economic grievances, they soon developed into broader protests against the regime of President Hassan Rouhani.
“There were unprecedented images of protestors tearing down posters of Ayatollah Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and the current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei,” the organisation said in a statement issued late last week.
“It is well documented that the vast majority of Iranians are deeply disillusioned with the Islamic theocratic regime and are angry with the religious rulers. Since the 1979 revolution, the people have suffered political repression and the abuse of basic human rights. Oppression and economic corruption are endemic in the authority structures.”
Elam, which has offices in both the UK and US, has urged Christians to pray to intercede for the “righteousness and peace of Christ to rule all over Iran”. They ask for prayer that if protests resume there will be no more bloodshed, and that Iran will not descend into anarchy and violence.
They also are calling on people to pray that God will grant Iranians freedom from oppression and give them just leaders and that God will continue to build His church in Iran.
