Over 100 Killed At Christian Wedding Party In Iraq
A bride and groom are among at least 114 people who died at a Christian wedding party in northern Iraq where a fire tore through the hall packed with guests, officials said Wednesday.
Christian Persecution – Middle East
‘50,000 Mosques Closed In Iran’ As Christianity Spreads
Recent comments by a senior Iranian cleric that around 50,000 of Iran’s 75,000 mosques are closed highlight the growth of Christianity in Iran and disillusion with “the regime’s use of Islam to justify its authoritarian rule,” a prominent human rights activist told Worthy News on Monday.
Iran: House-church pastor begins 10-year prison sentence for “disturbing” Islam
An Iranian-Armenian pastor began a 10-year prison sentence in Iran yesterday, after being found guilty of engaging in “propaganda contrary to and disturbing to the holy religion of Islam” through his leading of a house church in Tehran, the Article 18 religious freedom NGO reports.
Iraq: Five men sentenced to life imprisonment for killing American Christian
A court in Baghdad, Iraq, sentenced four Iraqi militia members and one Iranian national to life imprisonment last week for the killing of American Christian Stephen Troell last year, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Iran Detains Scores Of Christians Ahead Of Anniversary
Iran has detained scores of Christians ahead of the first anniversary of the death in custody of a young Kurdish woman, Christians said as more details on the crackdown emerged Friday.
Iran Detains Dozens Of Christian Converts
More than 50 Christian converts have been detained over the past week in five Iranian cities, and Christians said the number could rise.
Iran: More than 50 Christians rounded up and detained on unknown charges
In a sudden spike of persecution against Christians in Iran, government authorities arrested and detained more than 50 Christians in five cities across Iran in the last 10 days, Article 18 reports.
Iraq: Persecuted Christians launch TV channel in Syriac language derived from Jesus’ Aramaic
The much-persecuted, tiny Christian community in Iraq has taken the historic step of launching a new public television channel broadcasting only programs conducted in their native Syriac language, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Syriac is an ancient language derived from Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke while He walked the Earth.
Christians in Syria at risk of “genocidal” attacks from NATO member Turkey
Christians in Syria continue to face “genocidal” attacks not only from jihadists inside the country but also from Islamist-affiliated, NATO member Turkey, Algemeiner reports.
Iran: Judge orders release of Christian couple imprisoned for house church activity
In a rare display of justice from Iran’s notoriously corrupt judicial system, an appeals court judge in Tehran overturned the convictions of two Christian leaders who were sentenced to imprisonment for participating in a house church and ordered their release, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Iran executes two men for blasphemy
Amid a spike in the number of executions it has carried out since last year’s nationwide anti-government protests, Iran has just executed two Iranian men charged with blasphemy for insulting Islam and the Islamic prophet Muhammad, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, there are currently more than 150 people imprisoned in Iran for their religious beliefs.
Iran: Christian couple granted a retrial following prison sentence for house church membership
A court in Iran has accepted an application for a retrial by an Iranian Christian couple sentenced to a combined 10 years in prison for being members of a house church, Article 18 reports.
Iran: Historic Assemblies of God church building put up for sale by Islamic regime
A historically significant former Assemblies of God church building in Iran has been put up for sale by the country’s authoritarian Islamic government after first being forcefully closed to its congregation, Article 18 reports.
US ministry is sharing the Gospel with Iranians fleeing to Armenia
A US-based ministry has been able to share the Gospel with Iranians who are open to hearing about Jesus after fleeing the harsh authoritarian Islamic rulers of their country for neighboring democratic Armenia, CBN News reports.
Iran: Pastor still faces 30 lashes and two years in exile after early release from prison
An Iranian pastor who converted to Christianity from Islam has been released after serving five years of a jail term he received for sharing the Gospel with Muslims, but still faces 30 lashes and two years in exile from his home, Article 18 reports.
Iran Releases Church Leader Nadarkhani After Years Behind Bars
An Iranian pastor, who spent most of his time in prison since 2016, has been released as part of a national amnesty issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to commemorate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
Iran: Two Christians pardoned and released from prison
In a rare act of goodwill toward Iran’s Christian community, the Iranian Islamic regime pardoned and released two Christians imprisoned for “acting against national security by organizing house churches and promoting ‘Zionist’ Christianity,” International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The Christians’ release was part of the government’s annual tradition of pardoning prisoners commemorating Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran Releases Another Jailed Christian Convert After Pressure
Iran has released another Christian convert from its notorious prison, just days after another jailed Christian was freed, Christians said Thursday.
Iran: Christians under increased persecution, but church is growing
Christians in Iran have faced even more intense persecution since the Iranian regime began its violent crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests that took off last year – but the Iranian church continues to grow, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Iran: Pastor re-arrested and imprisoned, no reason given
A pastor in Iran who is serving a six-year prison sentence on account of his religious activity was suddenly re-arrested on December 26 while on officially approved leave from his jail, Article 18 reports.