Iranian Christians request prayer for Milad Gourdazi who has to present himself by September 21 to start serving his prison sentence.
On 11 November 2020, Iranian intelligence agents raided the homes of Milad Gourdazi, Amin Khaki and Alireza Nourmohammadi, as well as the homes of several other converts, confiscating Bibles, cell phones and computers. No-one was arrested at that time, but the converts continued to face harassment and were ordered to abstain from Christian activities – which they refused to do.
Following a hearing in Karaj Revolutionary Court in June, Amin, Milad and Alireza were each handed down the maximum five-year prison sentence under the recently amended Article 500 of the penal code for “propaganda that educates in a deviant way contrary to the holy religion of Islam” and fined 40 million tomans (approx. US$1600).
At an appeal hearing on 25 August, the convictions were upheld, but the prison sentences reduced to three years each.
Milad is the first of the three to receive a prison summons, but it is assumed that Amin and Alireza will shortly be summoned as well.
Prayer Points
Prayer is requested that:
- God will encourage and strengthen Milad (and the other converts) as they prepare to go to prison on account of their Christian faith.
- God will impart His peace to their families and provide for them throughout the prison term.
- The converts will be eligible for early release.
- The Iranian authorities will stop persecuting religious minorities for the peaceful expression of their faith.
