Christians Urge Prayers For Jailed Iranian Believers
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Christians have urged prayers for four detained Christians in Iran, including frail Pastor Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, who was recently detained again after he already served 5 years in prison for activities linked to his faith in Christ.
“In 2017, Pastor Nasser was sentenced to ten years in prison for his Christian ministry activities. Though pardoned and released in 2022, the pastor was suddenly rearrested on February 6th of this year,” confirmed advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC) to Worthy News
“Following this recent rearrest, Pastor Nasser was held without charge and denied legal representation. As a last resort, the detained believer began a hunger strike not long after his imprisonment.”
Regrettably, the group added “he was found unconscious in his solitary-confinement cell on March 17th. The Christian leader was subsequently rushed to hospital, where it was determined that he had suffered a stroke.”
The 63-year-old convert received basic medical treatment and was provided with exercises to help regain movement on the left side of his body, according to Christians familiar with his situation.
“Despite the physician’s recommendations for physiotherapy and continued treatment, he was then returned to prison. While Pastor Nasser has since ended his hunger strike, he continues to suffer from lack of movement in his left arm and leg.”
In addition to Pastor Nasser’s arrest, Pastor Joseph Shahbazian and two Christian women were also taken into custody on February 6, Christians told Worthy News.
WOMEN BEHIND BARS
Concerns have also been raised over the fate of two women, one of whom has since been identified as “Aida,” according to VOMC investigators.
It is understood that Aida is being held in the women’s ward of the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran.
VOMC urged supporters to pray for these Christians.
It was crucial to also pray “for Pastor Nasser’s physical healing and strength.” And for prison officials “to ensure this long-suffering Christian leader receives the recommended medical treatment to help him during his journey to recovery,” the group wrote.
While “prayerfully upholding Pastor Nasser and the three mentioned believers who were recently detained, please also remember the many other Christians presently imprisoned in Iran – as well as their concerned families,”’ VOMC told its supporters in a prayer appeal.
VOMC also expressed hope that the jailed believers will be able to share the Gospel at a time of reported growing interest in the Christian faith among Muslims in the Islamic Republic.
INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE
Iran’s Islamic leadership has come under growing international pressure to improve the rights of minorities, including devoted Christians, who are seen as a threat to Tehran’s power base.
Despite reports of persecution, “more Iranians have become Christians in the last 20 years than in the previous 13 centuries put together since Islam came to Iran,” explained Elam Ministries, a mission group launched by Iranian church leaders.
In 1979, there were an estimated 500 Christians from a Muslim background in Iran.
“Today, there are hundreds of thousands—some say more than 1 million. Whatever the exact number, many Iranians are turning to Jesus as Lord and Savior,” Elam Ministries added.
It linked the growing interest in the Christian faith in part to “Violence in the name of Islam,” which “caused widespread disillusionment with the regime and led many Iranians to question their beliefs.”
In addition, “many Iranian Christians have continued to boldly and faithfully tell others about Christ in the face of persecution,” Elam Ministries stressed.
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