Friends of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani request prayer following his violent arrest on 22 July. About ten Iranian police officers were involved, using unnecessary force on Yousef and his son, despite their offering no resistance.
On 6 July, 2017, Yousef Nadarkhani, along with fellow converts, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie, were each sentenced to ten-years imprisonment for propagating house churches and promoting “Zionist Christianity.” Following a court appeal in December 2017, a decision upholding the sentences was delivered to their lawyer in May.
Yousef has reportedly been taken to Evin Prison in Tehran. The manner of his arrest is probably an attempt to intimidate the Christian community.
Yousef has been subjected to a series of arrests and imprisonments in recent years. He was first detained in December 2006. Following another arrest in 2009 he was sentenced to death for apostasy in 2010 but was acquitted in September 2012. He and the other three men belong to the so-called “Church of Iran”, a denomination with an unconventional understanding of the Trinity.
Prayer Points:
Please pray that:
- The Lord will comfort and strengthen Yousef and his family, especially the son who was injured during the arrest
- The Lord will give wisdom to Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie to know how to respond and prepare for possible arrest
- The Iranian authorities will treat converts and other religious minorities with respect and that they and their families will not be wrongly and aggressively handled
- Those officials responsible for the persecution of Christians will be convicted of the injustice and repent and find new life in Christ
