Turkey: Upcoming second hearing for Andrew Brunson
Christians in Turkey request further prayer for Andrew Brunson, the American pastor imprisoned in Turkey since October 2016, as he prepares for his next court hearing on 7 May. Andrew faces charges related to terrorism and espionage that could result in a total prison...
Iran: appeal unsuccessful for Rasht Christian converts
Iranian Christians request prayer for four Christian converts who have finally received the court decision following an appeal court hearing on 13 December 2017. Yesterday (2 May) the lawyer representing Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser...
Iran: Appeal hearing for Christians with heavy sentences
Iranian Christians are encouraged following an appeal hearing for Christian converts, Hadi Asgari and Amin Nader Afshari, and Assyrian pastor Victor Bet Tamraz. The first appeal hearing, which had been postponed, took place today (25 April). Two judges oversaw the...
Iran: Christian convert in Evin Prison
Iranian Christians request prayer for Aziz Majidzadeh (54) held in Evin Prison, Tehran. According to Kiaa Aalipour of Article 18, speaking to World Watch Monitor, on 2 March security forces arrested a Christian convert in his home and forced him to go to a workshop...
Turkey: Andrew Brunson appears in court
Today (16 April) American pastor Andrew Brunson, who was originally arrested on 7 October 2016, appeared in court in Izmir, Turkey, to face charges related to terrorism and espionage that could result in a total prison sentence of 35 years. Last week, as part of...
Turkey: Andrew Brunson court hearing
Family and friends of pastor Andrew Brunson, the American pastor imprisoned in Turkey since October 2016, request renewed prayer ahead of his court appearance on 16 April 2018. Andrew’s wife, Norine, thanks the many people praying and writes: “I believe that this is a...
Iran: Imprisoned Christian granted conditional release
Iranian Christians are thankful that Hadi Asgari, a Christian convert, has been granted conditional release from Evin Prison after posting bail. They request prayer for the upcoming appeal hearing for Hadi, fellow Christian convert Amin Nader Afshari, and Assyrian...
MEC publishes 2017 Annual Report
MEC Annual Report 2017 A 25-page report on MEC’s activities in 2017, including: an overview of the Middle East and North Africa region – and how the regional situation affected Christian communities analysis of trends – in countries, in themes and in numbers...
Algeria: Christian released after serving prison sentence
Algerian Christians invite us to rejoice with them in the release from prison of Slimane Bouhafs, a Christian arrested and imprisoned in 2016. He was released on 1 April having served his sentence. Slimane, aged 51, is from the Kabylie area and chose to convert to...
Turkey: Date set for Andrew Brunson court hearing
Christians in Turkey request continued prayer for pastor Andrew Brunson, who is scheduled to appear in court on 16 April 2018. Andrew was indicted in a 62-page document submitted by the public prosecutor on 13 March charging Andrew with being linked to both the...
Iraq: Christians concerned after spate of deadly violence
Christians in Iraq request prayer following a spate of violence in Baghdad in recent weeks in which Christians and Mandeans were attacked, leaving five dead. On 25 February, gunmen shot 28-year-old Samir Salah-Addin Younis, a Christian father of two. On 10 March, four...
Turkey: Pastor Andrew Brunson indicted and facing life sentence
Christians in Turkey request continued prayer for pastor Andrew Brunson following an official indictment demanding life imprisonment. On 13 March the prosecutor in Izmir province charged Andrew with being a member and leading actor of the terrorist group connected to...