Christians Arrested, Released in Iran

Praise God, Morteza Mashhoodkari is now free after completing 2.5 years of his five-year sentence for participation in a house church. In April of 2022, he and two other Iranian Christians, “Youḥanna” Ahmad Sarparast and “Farzin” Ayoub Poor-Rezazadeh were arrested and sent to Lakan Prison in Rasht for activities contrary to Islam. (Article18, December 24)

After 22 years of various prison sentences and acquittals for propagating Christianity, praise God, Iranian pastor “Matthias” Abdolreza Ali-Haghnejad was released from his latest prison term on December 14. (A18, Dec 16)

Javad Amin and two women, all Christian converts from Islam, were arrested by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on November 17, for propagating a religion contrary to Islam. The IRGC then ransacked Javad’s home, confiscated his phone, Bibles and other Christian books, as well as notebooks he kept as he studied the Word. While her husband was detained, IRGC and Ministry of Intelligence agents also severely interrogated his wife, Farzaneh. Praise God, all three Christians were released ten days later, after submitting 1 billion romans ($15,000) each in bail. (A18, Dec 4)

On November 5, Christian convert Toomaj Aryan-Kia was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of propagating a religion contrary to Islam and collaborating with the US, UK and Israel. His first arrest was in 2022, when his Bibles were confiscated and he spent a month in solitary confinement before his transfer to Karaj Prison for another six weeks, and then his release after paying a $75,000 bail. Toomaj is one of at least six Christians who received prison sentences of 10 or more years in 2024. Others include Yasin Mousavi (15 years) and Armenian Christian Hakop Gochumyan and three others (10 years). (A18, Nov 18)

Conversion to Christianity is punishable by death in 98% Muslim Iran, ranking them as the eighth most dangerous country in the world for those who seek to follow Christ, but first as far as the fastest growing underground church.

Lord, we praise You for the release of Morteza, Matthias, Javad and the other Christians who have been released. Protect them and Javad’s wife from further persecution or prison sentences. Heal their minds, hearts and bodies. Guide them through any restrictions they are ordered to abide by. Sustain them. Give them grace and courage. Pour Your love into them and flow out of them to love their enemies and bless those who persecute them. Be near to Youhanna, Farzin, Toomaj, Yasin, Hakop and other Christians still in prison. Wrap them in Your arms and let them feel Your presence. Speak to them tenderly and encourage them in the toughest hours. Make the way for their release, Lord, and use them as mighty lights for Your glory even now. Fill them with Your forgiveness and love, empower them with Your message of truth, and use them to draw many to You. When they and other Christians are brought before the authorities and interrogated, give them the words to say. Shine so brightly through them, their persecutors tremble in fear of the Lord and are drawn to You by the glory in their faces.

Sustain every Christian in Iran, Lord. Lift them up to soar over every trial on Your Eagle wings. Be a Shield around them, hiding them from those who wish to do them harm, and give them favor with all their neighbors and those in authority. Bring to them those who are seekers, longing to know the God of Love in the midst of so much hatred and violence their culture has known. Help believers know who is truly seeking and who is a plant placed there to spy on the church. Hide underground churches from those who wish Your people harm, but make them easy to find for those who truly want to know You. Grow Your church in Iran by the millions. Awaken every Muslim to hunger for You, Lord. May Your Kingdom come to every village, every home, every people group, every Islamic extremist, every person in government, every heart. Visit the lost in their dreams to tell them who You are. Don’t let even one more person die without hearing the truth about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. May they know once and for all that You alone are the Way, the Truth and the Life. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

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