Israel: Messianic ministry faces new court hearing
City of Life Ministries (CLM) in Sderot – a town adjacent to Gaza – requests prayer for a court hearing on 2 February. They have an ongoing legal battle over using their rented premises for humanitarian aid and meetings of the Messianic congregation. Sderot, known as...
Türkiye: Protestant Church shot at on New Year’s Eve
The pastor of the Çekmeköy branch of Kurtuluş Kilisesi Derneği (Association of Salvation Church) requests prayer after the building was shot at on the evening of 31 December. On 2 January police arrested two suspects, Serkan P. (33) and Veysi A. (33). Apparently,...
Iran: Twelve Christian converts charged in Nowshahr
Friends request prayer for twelve Christian converts facing charges of “propagation of the religions that are in conflict and against Islam” and “collaborating with foreign governments.” The evidence submitted consisted of Bibles and Christian books, the claim that...
Joint Report: The Plight of Iranian Christians Seeking International Protection in Georgia
Middle East Concern, in collaboration with Article 18, CSW and Open Doors International has released a report on the plight of Iranian Christians seeking international protection in Georgia. The Georgian immigration authorities are consistently refusing the claims of...
2024 Stakeholder report for the United Nation’s Universal Periodic Review (4th Cycle): Türkiye
Click here for the full report.
Iran: Three converts detained
Friends of detained Christian converts Jahangir Alikhani, Hamed Malamiri and Gholam Eshagh, recently re-arrested by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), request prayer. The three were among 20 Christians initially arrested in Nowshahr and Chalus in...
Iran: Iranian-Armenian pastor acquitted and released from prison
On 24 September, Branch 21 of the Appeal Court of Tehran acquitted pastor Anooshavan Avedian (62) of the charge of “propaganda contrary to and disturbing to the holy religion of Islam,” and ordered his release from prison. He was serving a 10-year prison sentence...
Türkiye: Bursa church ordered to evacuate
In July 2024, the Regional Directorate of Foundations ordered the evacuation of the "French Church" in Bursa before 24 August, claiming that the historical building is structurally unsafe as the groundwater level is very high and a reinforcement project must be...
2024 Stakeholder report for the United Nation’s Universal Periodic Review (48th Session): Islamic Republic of Iran
Click here for the full report.
Algeria: Pastor’s sentence upheld
Pastor Youssef Ourahmane, vice-president of the EPA, requests continued prayer after a 2 May appeal verdict, which confirmed a previous sentence of one year applied imprisonment as well as a 100.000 DZD (approximately US$ 735) fine on charges of holding an...
Iran: Christian convert accused of propaganda against the regime
Friends of Shabeddin (Shahab) Shahi request prayer for a second hearing at 6th Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj to face charges of propaganda against the Islamic regime. Shahab was notified on 11 March that he faced charges and had five days to appear at...
Iran: Prayer for Iranian-Armenian pastor in prison
Iranian-Armenian pastor Anooshavan Avedian (61) is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in Evin Prison, Tehran. He was arrested along with two Christian converts when around 30 intelligence agents raided a private Christian gathering in Narmak, North Tehran on...