Iranian Christian convert detained since before Christmas

Ali Amini (Article 18)
An Iranian convert to Christianity arrested more than two months ago remains in prison in the conservative north-western city of Tabriz, according to rights group Article 18. Ali Amini, known by his friends as Philip, was arrested by revolutionary guards at his workshop in the city on 10 December. His . . . Read More

Iranian convert to Christianity – ‘If I went back, I’d be killed’

Iranian  convert to Christianity – ‘If I went back, I’d be killed’
A church in the UK has survived closure because of attendance by a growing number of asylum seekers from a Muslim background, reports the BBC. In the past two years 324 asylum-seekers have been baptised at Tredegarville Baptist Church in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Now 95 per cent of . . . Read More

Iran: Wife of convicted pastor gets jail sentence of her own

Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh, the wife of Victor Bet-Tamraz
The wife of an Iranian pastor sentenced to ten years in jail has been given a five-year sentence of her own. Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh, the wife of Victor Bet-Tamraz, was convicted of “acting against national security and against the regime by organising small groups, attending a seminary abroad and training . . . Read More

Iran: wife of jailed pastor next in court, then their son

The Bet-Tamraz family
The wife of an Iranian pastor sentenced to 10 years in jail is due to appear before an Islamic Revolutionary Court on 21 August, where she will face charges of “participating in foreign Christian seminars” and “acting against Iranian national security”. Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh, the wife of Victor Bet-Tamraz, was . . . Read More

Iranian Christian out on bail after 3-week hunger strike

Iranian Christian out on bail after 3-week hunger strike
An Iranian Christian sentenced to 15 years in jail has been released on bail, three weeks after writing an open letter to the authorities, asking what he had done to “make you hate me this much” and declaring that he had decided to “terminate my life slowly” through a hunger . . . Read More

Jailed Christian on hunger strike to protest against treatment of Iranian converts

Ebrahim Firouzi
Another imprisoned Iranian Christian has begun a hunger strike to protest against the recent rash of sentences against Christians in Iran. Ebrahim Firouzi, 30, who has five years left of his own sentence for “acting against national security”, followed fellow convert to Christianity Amin Afshar-Naderi in writing a statement criticising . . . Read More

Jailed Iranian Christian asks authorities: ‘Why do you hate me?’

Jailed Iranian Christian asks authorities: ‘Why do you hate me?’
An Iranian convert to Christianity, sentenced last week to 15 years in jail, has written an open letter to the authorities, asking what he has done to “make you hate me this much” and declaring that he has decided to “terminate my life slowly” through a hunger strike. Amin Afshar-Naderi . . . Read More

Third Iranian convert given lengthy sentence alongside pastor

Third Iranian convert given lengthy sentence alongside pastor
More details have emerged about the sentencing of four Iranian Christians earlier this week. On Wednesday (5 July)*, World Watch Monitor reported that three Christians – a pastor and two converts to Christianity – had been given lengthy jail terms, but now it emerges that a fourth man, another convert, . . . Read More

Iran sentences four more Christians to 10 years in jail for ‘missionary activities’

Iran sentences four more Christians to 10 years in jail for ‘missionary activities’
One Iranian and three Azerbaijani Christians have been found guilty of “missionary activities” and “actions against national security” in Iran and sentenced to 10 years in prison. World Watch Monitor understands that the three Azerbaijanis – Eldar Gurbanov, Yusif Farhadov and Bahram Nasibov – are unlikely to serve their sentences . . . Read More

Why Iranian Christians are pinning hopes on ‘moderate’ Rouhani, despite human rights failures

Why Iranian Christians are pinning hopes on ‘moderate’ Rouhani, despite human rights failures
As Iranians head to the polls today (19 May) to vote for their next President, World Watch Monitor takes a look at President Hassan Rouhani’s first term in office and the potential impact of the election result for the country’s Christian minority. Hassan Rouhani was voted in four years ago, . . . Read More