Iran: Pastor’s son receives verdict
Ramiel Bet Tamraz and a friend have each been sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for "acting against national security" by joining house churches. Judge Ahmadzadeh oversaw the hearing on 18 June and delivered the verdict on 11 July. There is likely to be an...
Turkey: Prayer reminder for upcoming hearing
Please pray for the upcoming hearing on 18 July for American pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey. Andrew faces charges related to terrorism and espionage that could result in a 35-year prison sentence. This is the third hearing, following hearings on 16 April and 7 May....
Iran: Mohammadali Yassaghi freed from detention
Friends of Mohammadali Yassaghi (Estifan) praise the Lord for his release from Babol Prison in Mazandaran Province, North Iran. On 1 June MEC requested prayer for Mohammadali, a member of the 'Church of Iran', praying that he would be soon freed and able to rejoin his...
Algeria: Another Church Re-opens
Algerian Christians rejoice in the re-opening of a church in El Ayaida (35km east of Oran) which had been closed in January 2018. However, there is still need for prayer in the face of continued government pressure, with several churches remaining closed. The church...
Iran:court hearing for pastor’s son
Iranian Christians request prayer following a court hearing on 18 June at Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Ramiel Bet Tamraz, an Assyrian Christian, and another man, a Christian convert, who has asked for his name to be withheld, were both charged with...
Algeria: two churches re-open, though pressures continue
As Algerian Christians continue to request prayer in the face of pressure by the government, they are grateful that two recently-closed churches in Oran Province have been permitted to re-open. Churches in Ain Turk and Oran were closed in November 2017 and February...
Palestine: minor incident with priest
Christians in Jerusalem and Bethlehem are thankful for the reconciliatory response to a recent incident involving a Franciscan priest in Bethlehem, but are concerned that a minor incident has become exaggerated and politicized. On Friday 1 June, Father Fadi Shallufi...
Iran: Arrest and detention of “Church of Iran” member
Prayer has been requested for Mohammadali Yassaghi, a member of the 'Church of Iran', who is being held in Babol Prison in Mazandaran Province, North Iran. The self-styled 'Church of Iran' is an Iranian faith movement with a non-conventional understanding of the...
Algeria: Increasing government pressure on churches and Christians
Algerian Christians ask for continued prayer in the face of increasing pressure by the government on the Church and Christians. Since November 2017, a committee of officials has been conducting church inspections. Although the declared purpose of inspections is to...
Iran: Update on appeal hearing for Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh
This morning (9 May) there was an appeal hearing for Assyrian Christian Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh, wife of pastor Victor Bet Tamraz. On 6 January, Shamiram was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by Judge Ahmadzade of Tehran Revolutionary Court for acting against...
Turkey: second hearing for Andrew Brunson
Christians in Turkey request further prayer for Andrew Brunson following his second court hearing on 7 May. The court listened to the testimonies of witnesses, but three of the witnesses submitted by the defense were refused permission to testify on the grounds that...
Iran: Appeal hearing for Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh
Iranian Christians request prayer for an appeal hearing for Assyrian Christian Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh, wife of pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, on 9 May. On 6 January, Shamiram was sentenced to five years imprisonment by Judge Ahmadzade of Tehran Revolutionary Court for...