No country in the Middle East has seen more Christians imprisoned in 2011 than in Iran. A recent report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide revealed that 254 Christians were arrested in more than thirty cities across the country since June 2010.
Sunday, June 12, marked the second anniversary of the kidnappings of nine Christian foreigners in Yemen by suspected Muslim militants, but German and British investigators “were understood” to have ended “their active search” for those still missing, advocacy group Middle East Concern (MEC) said.
The fate of an Iranian Christian prisoner remained unclear Friday, June 10, nearly nine months after he was detained by security forces as part of a reported government crackdown on devoted Christians in this strict Islamic nation.
An increase in the arrest of Iranians converting from Islam reveals an abundant harvest resulting from evangelism by clandestine house churches in the Islamic state, according to Iranian Christian leaders.
Eleven members of one of Iran’s largest evangelical house church movements, who were charged with ‘action against the order of the country’ and drinking alcohol, have been acquitted by an Iranian court, Worthy News learned Friday, May 20.
Thousands of Christians have participated in the first known “Christian Revival” meeting in one of the most restrictive Islamic countries of the Middle East, Worthy News established.
Iran has released three Christians who were detained last year during Christian gatherings, but concerns remain over the whereabouts of a Dutch-Iranian believer, rights activists confirmed Friday, May 6.
There was international concern Tuesday, May 3, over the situation of 11 members of one of Iran’s largest evangelical house churches amid reports they face a trial for “activities against the Order”, and for drinking alcohol.
A roadside bomb exploded near the rear entrance of a Catholic church in Iraq’s capital Baghdad after Easter Mass Sunday, April 24, injuring at least seven people, Christians said.
Two Indian Christians of a thriving Pentecostal house church in Saudi Arabia have been moved from pre-trial detention to a prison in the Saudi capital Ryadh where they are “forbidden to pray or read the Bible” and “suffer of a lack of food and medical attention,” an elder of the church has told Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife.
An Iranian court has once again adjourned a trial of Christians of a large evangelical “house” church movement who potentially face the death penalty for “blasphemy” against Islam, trial observers said Wednesday, April 13.
An Iranian court has given prosecutors a week to prove that five Christians of a large evangelical house church denomination are guilty of blasphemy, which carries the death penalty in Iran, a senior church official told Worthy News and its affiliated news partner BosNewsLife Wednesday, April 6.
Five detained members of one of Iran’s largest house church movements were to face a trial Monday, April 5, on charges of “blasphemy” which carries the death penalty in this strict Islamic nation, a church representative told Worthy News.
There was concern Tuesday, March 29, about the whereabouts of three detained Iranian house church Christians after Iranian security forces raided a worship service, Iranian Christians said.
Iran has secretly executed a Jewish-Armenian couple and three other persons, raising concerns about other religious minority prisoners in the strict Islamic nation, Iranian Christians and rights activists confirmed Sunday, March 27.
Two Indian Christian men working in Saudi Arabia were behind bars Tuesday, March 22, after they were sentenced to 45 days imprisonment for allegedly trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, rights activists said.
Representatives of a Messianic Jewish community in the southern Israeli town of Arad said Monday, March 21, they face “increased persecution” by ultra-Orthodox Jews who accuse the believers of missionary activities and want them to leave Israel.
Five Iranian house church Christians were behind bars Wednesday, March 15, after being sentenced to one year imprisonment on charges of “crimes against the Islamic order” and there were reports that Iranian authorities have been burning Bibles.
At least over 30 Christians who were recently detained remained behind bars in Iran Tuesday, February 22, but there were reports that scores of other believers were released after being held by security forces in several parts of the strict Islamic nation.
An Iranian court has told arrested evangelical Christians who may face execution on charges of apostasy that they “should be punished”, but that their trial “has been postpone for April,” a senior church official said Thursday, February 17.