Iranian Christians request prayer for three more members of the “Church of Iran” who were arrested in Rasht on 23 February.
Officials from the Revolutionary Guards (known as “Sepah”) raided two house churches in Rasht Saturday evening and arrested Babak Hosseinzadeh and Mehdi Khatibi. The same day Behnam Akhlaghi was also summoned to security offices, arrested and detained. They are presently being held in the security offices of Sepah in Rasht.
This follows the arrest of Kamal Naamanian, Mohammed Vafada and Shahrooz Eslamdous on 15 February and their pastor, Matthias Haghnejad, who was detained on 10 February. Khalil Dehkanpour and Hossein Kadivar, also members of the “Church of Iran” (a denomination with an unconventional understanding of the Trinity), were detained at the end of January. Khalil and Hossein have been transported to Lakan Prison pending a court hearing.
Prayer Points
Friends of the nine detainees request prayer that:
- They will stand firm during interrogation and detention, know the Lord’s strengthening and encouragement, and will be able to return home soon
- Their families and friends will be comforted in the present distressing situation
- The churches in Rasht will not succumb to fear, but be strengthened and prepared
- Iranian authorities will stop targeting Christians and other religious minorities
