Iran: update on court hearing of Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh
We recently requested prayer for Assyrian Christian Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh, facing an appeal hearing on 19 February. She is appealing a five years sentence, handed down on 6 January 2018, for acting against national security and acting against the regime by...
Iran: Christian convert released from Evin Prison
On 13 February MEC requested prayer for Simin Soheili and Yaser, Christian converts being held in Evin Prison, Tehran since 30 January 2019. We are glad to report that Simin was released on 14 February, but the conditions of her release are not known. On 30...
Iran: Appeal hearing for Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh
Iranian Christians have requested prayer for an appeal hearing, to be held tomorrow (19 February), in the case of Assyrian Christian Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh. On 6 January 2018, Shamiram was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by Judge Ahmadzadeh of Tehran...
Iran: Arrest and detention of two Christian converts in Tehran
Iranian Christians request prayer for Simin Soheili and Yaser, Christian converts being held in Evin Prison, Tehran since 30 January 2019. On that date Simin and Yaser were summoned separately to the prison for questioning and arrested. Simin has been informed she...
Iran: Pastor and two members of “Church of Iran” arrested in Rasht
Iranian Christians request prayer for pastor Matias Haknejad, Kalil Dehkanpour and Hossein Kadivar of the “Church of Iran” - a denomination with an unorthodox understanding of the Trinity – who have been arrested and remain in detention. On Sunday night, 10 February,...
Iran: further arrests of Christian converts
Iranian Christians request prayer for two converts who were recently arrested and detained. Human Rights group Article 18 reports that on 23 January, Sina Moloudian (26), was arrested in Esfahan and then on 25 January Ismaeil Maghrebinejad (64) was arrested in Shiraz....
Iran: arrests of five female Christian converts
Iranian Christians request prayer following the arrests of five female converts from Islam to Christianity. These include Roksari Kanbari, a 65-year old who was arrested and detained in Karaj, and forced to endure ten days of intensive interrogation. Early one...
Algeria: Authorities shut down church again
Christians in Algeria request prayer for a congregation in the Kayblie region, which faces ongoing pressure from the authorities. After officials sealed the church building in October 2018, the congregation continued to meet for worship in a tent erected in the church...
Turkey: Court of Cassation upholds verdict in Malatya Zirve case
The 16th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation today upheld the verdict issued against the five perpetrators in the Malatya Zirve murder trial relating to the 2007 murder of three Christians. A demand from the Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey (TeK) to...
Iran: Annual Report on Rights Violations Released
Middle East Concern, in collaboration with Open Doors International, Article 18 and CSW has released the 2018 report on violations of the rights of Christians in Iran. During 2018, the Iranian Christian community, along with other religious minorities, continued to...
Iraq: Christians facing intimidation
Christians in Iraq request prayer following two shooting incidents outside churches in the villages of Bartella and Qaraqosh, in the first week of December 2018. On 1 December, several cars parked in front of the Syrian Catholic “St George” church in Bartella. They...
Algeria: Update on Christians acquitted of charges
Christians in Algeria ask for prayer for five Christians recently acquitted of proselytism and blasphemy charges. On 26 December 2018, MEC reported that four Christians from Muslim backgrounds, including three from the same family, were acquitted of proselytism...