Iran: Parliament votes in favour of punishing apostasy with death
The Iranian Parliament voted on Tuesday in favour of a bill stipulating the death penalty for apostasy. The bill was approved by 196 votes for, seven against, and two abstentions.
Christian Persecution – Middle East
Iranian Christians Face Death Penalty In Iran
Two Iranian Christians from Muslim backgrounds may receive the death penalty on charges of apostasy, according to prosecution documents published Tuesday, September 9.
Iran: Martyr’s Son Detained in Wave of Arrests
Five arrests in three cities across Iran in August suggest a continued crackdown on Iranian Christians by authorities, sources told Compass.
Christians from Muslim Background Charged With Apostasy in Iran
Two Christians from Muslim backgrounds were officially charged with apostasy last week at the Public and Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, Iran, raising fears for their continued well-being.
House Churches Growing in Iran Despite Persecution
A major crackdown against house church Christians is proceeding in Iran.
Yemen Detains Nine Ex-Muslims For Converting To Christianity
At least some nine Christian converts remained detained in Yemen Friday, August 22, amid international concerns they may be tortured or even killed because of their decision to abandon Islam.
Saudi Arabia: Muslim Father Kills Daughter for Converting to Christianity
The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org has learned that a Saudi Arabian man cut out the tongue of his daughter and burned her to death after finding out that she had converted to Christianity.
Egypt: Another Convert Tries to Change Religious Identification
One year after the first attempt by an Egyptian Muslim convert to Christianity to change his religious identity, another convert this week became the second to make such a controversial legal request.
Saudi Arabia to Deport 15 Christians
The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org has learned that Saudi Arabia is deporting 15 Christians on Tuesday, August 5th, for holding private worship meetings in a house in the city of Taif.
Iran: Jailed Christian in Critical Condition
A diabetic Iranian Christian jailed for two months is in critical condition due to lack of medical treatment, even as new reports of arrests against Christians surfaced this week.
Iran: Tortured Christian Flees
Days after his release from a month of interrogations and severe torture under secret police custody, Iranian Christian Mohsen Namvar has fled across the border into Turkey with his family.
Yemen: Arrests May Spark New Wave of Persecution
On 18 June Yemeni news source Al Sahwa reported that Yemeni political security forces in Hodiada province had arrested a "missionary cell" of seven people and charged them with promoting Christianity and distributing the Bible. One of those arrested, Hadni Dohni, stands accused of converting to Christianity.
Iran: Ex-Muslims Detained for ‘Apostasy’
Iranian authorities have detained two converts to Christianity in the southern city of Shiraz for eight weeks on suspicion of "apostasy," or leaving Islam. In Iran, apostasy is a crime that can be punishable by death.
Iran: Authorities ‘Temporarily’ Release Badly Injured Christian
After four weeks in police custody, Iranian Christian Mohsen Namvar was released "temporarily" last week to return to his home in Tehran.
American And Other Christians Facing “Torture” In Yemen Prison
Seven arrested Christian missionaries, including an unknown number of Americans, apparently remained detained in Yemen Sunday, June 29, and there was international concern they may face torture for spreading Christianity, several sources said.
Third Christian School Opened In Iraq
Amid reported death threats and violence against Iraq’s Christian minority, a mission group has managed to open a third Christian school in Iraq as part of government-backed reconciliation efforts, BosNewsLife monitored Saturday, June 14.
“Fall” Lebanon “Horrendous” Implications For Christians And Middle East
A key official of the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA-RLC) has warned that Iran-sponsored Hezbollah’s veto over government decisions means "the fall of Lebanon" with "horrendous implications" for religious liberty and security in the Middle East.
Iran: Christian Arrested Without Charges
Iran continued a wave of arrests against Christians in recent weeks, detaining a Tehran house church leader who was previously held and tortured for religious activity.
Gaza Strip: Unknown Assailants Attack Christian School
An attack on a Christian school in Gaza last weekend has created fear among the strip’s tiny religious minority, a Palestinian Christian said.
Iran Launches Crackdown On Ex-Muslims; Several Detained, Homes Raided
Several members of Iran’s rapidly expanding underground church remained behind bars Sunday, May 25, as part of a police crackdown on Muslim converts to Christianity, several Christian sources said.