Iranian Christians request prayer for Saheb Fadaei and Fatimeh Bakhteri, whose prison sentences of 18 and 12 months respectively for “spreading propaganda against the regime” have been upheld by the appeal court.
Saheb and Fatimeh are members of the self-designated “Church of Iran.” They were arrested in Rasht at a house church on 25 May 2017.
On 22 September 2018, following a court hearing earlier in the month, Saheb and Fatimeh were informed of the verdict through their lawyer. Saheb was additionally sentenced to two years’ internal exile.
An appeal hearing in January 2019 upheld the decision, with the prison sentences made known on 18 May.
Saheb is already serving another sentence in Evin Prison, Tehran. Saheb, along with pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi and Yaser Mosibzadeh, were each given 10-year prison sentences for propagating house churches and promoting “Zionist Christianity” after a hearing on 14 June 2017 at the 26th Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
Prayer Points
Iranian Christians request prayer that:
- The Lord will encourage and strengthen Saheb and Fatimeh, despite the injustices they face
- The Lord will also encourage and strengthen Saheb’s family and Fatimeh’s husband
- The Lord will bless and use Saheb, Yousef, Mohammadreza and Yaser while they are held in Evin Prison
- The Iranian regime will stop targeting Christian converts and other minorities on account of their religious beliefs and related peaceful activities
