Iran: Two pastors from the “Church of Iran” face new charges
Friends of Yousef Nadarkhani and Abdolreza (Matthias) Haghnejad request prayer after they were informed they were required to go to court on unspecified security charges. Two members of the same religious movement made a complaint about them to the Iranian...
Iran: Prison sentence reduced on appeal
Iranian Christians are encouraged that the Tehran Court of Appeal has reduced the 10-year prison sentence against Armenian Iranian Joseph Shahbazian for "acting against national security through promoting Zionist Christianity" to two years’ imprisonment, but regret...
Iran: Christian convert couple acquitted
Iranian Christians are delighted that Homayoun Zhaveh and his wife Sara Ahmadi have been acquitted following a review of their sentences. On 9 May the Appeal Court in Tehran reviewed their prison sentences handed down in November 2020 and ordered their release....
North Cyprus: Settlement in defamation case
At Lefkoşa (North Nicosia) Administrative Court on 5 May, 2023, the judge called both lawyers into his chambers. He explained that having examined the case, his decision would probably be the same as the original demand from Ryan Keating; that the newspaper Kıbrıs...
North Cyprus: Defamation trial to start soon
A defamation trial initiated by Ryan Keating against the Kıbrıs Postası newspaper will start on 5 May at Lefkoşa (North Nicosia) Administrative Court. Four more days have been scheduled for the following week if needed. At issue is a defamatory article published...
Iraq: Court of Appeal confirms Christian’s conviction
On 16 April 2023, the appeal court in Duhok confirmed the sentence of Jagarkhuin Abdulrahman Ismael, known as “Jagar,” issued by the lower court on 29 March 2023. Christians in Iraq ask for continued prayer for him, his family and his church. On 29 March, a court in...
Iraq: Christian convicted for misuse of a telecommunication device
Christians in Iraq request prayer for a convert from Islam serving a six months prison sentence for blasphemy. Jagarkhuin Abdulrahman Ismael, known as "Jagar," was found guilty on 29 March of misusing a telecommunication device, according to a Kurdistan Region (KRI)...
North Cyprus: Some charges withdrawn
On 23 March the prosecutor in Iskele District Court withdrew charges against Ryan Keating of illegally importing literature which had followed a joint police and customs raid on his home in January 2021 where personal Bibles and Christian books were seized. However,...
Annual Report: Rights Violations Against Christians in Iran
Middle East Concern, in collaboration with Open Doors International, Article 18 and CSW has released the 2023 annual report on violations of the rights of Christians in Iran. Iranian Christians, along with other religious minorities, continued to suffer multiple...
Iraq: Church leader faces blasphemy charges and threats
Christians in Iraq request prayer for a church leader, facing blasphemy charges and societal pressure, after social media comments deemed insulting to Islam. Bishop Bahzad Mziri of the Anabaptist church, who many years ago converted from Islam to Christianity, made a...
North Cyprus: Prayer for upcoming hearing
On 23 March Ryan Keating is scheduled to appear in Iskele District Court on charges of illegally importing literature – the result of a joint police and customs raid on his home in January 2021 in which personal Bibles and Christian books were seized. Customs...
Israel: Court hearing for Messianic ministry
On 9 March an initial court hearing took place in Ashkelon after the Sderot Municipality opened a case against City of Life Ministries (CLM) and pastor Michael Beener for alleged zoning regulation violations. The judge recognised this case is the only example of...