Essay: Remembering those for whom freedom is not a reality this Christmas
ELLIS HEASLEY, of UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW, urges us to pray for those Christians will not be with their families at Christmas…
Essay: From Iran, a glimmer of hope to start the year
ELLIS HEASLEY, of UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW, says that while the release of nine members of the Church of Iran is a welcome development, the situation for many Christians and other religious or belief minorities in Iran remains “highly concerning”…
Iranian court upholds verdicts against two Christians
An Iranian court has upheld verdicts against two Christians who were sentenced to prison terms after being found guilty of “spreading propaganda” against the regime, according to reports. Saheb Fadaie, who is already serving a 10 year prison sentence for “acting against national security”, and Fatemeh Bakhteri were sentenced to 18 months and 12 months […]
Three more Iranian Christians arrested in Rasht, says CSW
Three Iranian Christians have been arrested in the city of Rasht in the country’s north, according to religious freedom advocacy group CSW. The UK-based organisation reported that two members of the Church of Iran – Babak Hosseinzadeh and Behnam Akhlagh – were arrested while attending a church service on 23rd February while a third man, Mehdi Khatibi, […]
Iran continues to arrest Christians on eve of 40th anniversary of revolution
World Watch Monitor Iran’s security officials have arrested three Christians who were leading a house church in the absence of their pastor who is serving a ten-year jail sentence, reports Article 18. In the latest raid on a non-Trinitarian “Church of Iran” on Sunday, 10th February, in the northern city of Rasht, officers of the Ministry of […]
Iranian Christians sentenced to prison, verdict says “claiming Jesus is Lord is attack against Islam”
World Watch Monitor Saheb Fadaie, Youcef Nadarkhani, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Mohammad Reza Omidi. Two Iranian Christians have been given prison sentences for “spreading propaganda against the regime”, reports Middle East Concern. Saheb Fadaei and Fatimeh Bakhteri, who belong to the non-Trinitarian “Church of Iran”, were sentenced to 18 and 12 months, respectively. Middle East Concern noted […]
US commission calls for Iranian Christians’ release after “new miscarriage of justice”
World Watch Monitor From left: Saheb Fadaie, Youcef Nadarkhani, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Mohammad Reza Omidi. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of an Iranian pastor and three of his church members, after they were taken to prison last week to serve 10 year sentences for “acting against national […]
Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani taken to Evin Prison after violent raid on home
World Watch Monitor Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been taken to Evin Prison in the capital, Tehran, after a violent raid on his home in the northern city of Rasht on Sunday. The pastor was sentenced to 10 years in prison in July of last year, alongside three members of his congregation, and had been expecting a summons […]
Iranian Christian released by ‘courageous’ judge
World Watch Monitor An Iranian Christian has been released from prison after being arrested in April for “propaganda against the [Iranian] establishment”, Middle East Concern has reported. Mohammad Ali Yassaghi was kept in Babol Prison in the capital of Mazandaran Province in northern Iran. He is a member of the self-styled Church of Iran, which has a […]
Another Christian arrested in Iran as four others expected to start serving sentences following failed appeal, says CSW
A Christian man has been arrested by authorities in Iran and accused of “spreading propaganda against the establishment”, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The UK-based religious freedom advocacy said the man, whom the organisation identified as Mohammadali Yassaghi, known as ‘Estifan’, was arrested on 10th April and was later taken to prison. CSW said Mr Yassaghi is […]