Syrian and Iranian Christians continue to face increasing persecution
Syrian and Iranian Christians are being targeted for further persecution, according to Christian news reports.
Iran
Iran Frees Jailed Christian Executive After 287 Days
A Christian woman who was detained as part of Iran’s crackdown on devoted Christian converts has been released after more than nine months imprisonment, but concerns remain over other jailed believers, Worthy News learned January 1.
Iran Security Forces Raid Christmas Celebrations; Pastor, Wife Detained
A senior evangelical pastor and his wife are spending Christmas behind bars in southern Iran after security forces raided their Assemblies of God-affiliated church, detaining everyone in the building, including children attending Sunday School, a friend of the couple told Worthy News.
Iran Jails Pastor Extra Year Before Feared Execution
Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has to serve at least one more year in prison before he may be executed for refusing to abandon his faith in Christ and return to Islam, an official assisting him told Worthy News Thursday, December 14.
Iran Orders Pastors to Serve Prison Terms
Iran has ordered three evangelical house church pastors to report to prison within a month and serve lengthy jail terms on charges linked to their Christian activities, a well-informed source told Worthy News late Tuesday, November 29.
New U.S. Security Measures Leave Iraqi Christian Refugees in Limbo
The immigration status of thousands of Christians fleeing from persecution in Iraq are now in limbo thanks to new security measures.
Iranian Officials Pressure Imprisoned Pastor to Return to Islam
Iranian officials are trying to convince an imprisoned pastor to return to Islam while he awaits word from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on whether he should be executed for converting to Christianity.
Muslim Convert To Christianity Missing After Arrest
A believer of Muslim Background, Fariborz Arazm, has gone missing since his arrest last week by plain clothes security officers.
Iran Pastor’s Execution Verdict Expected Monday; Ruling Delayed
Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani learns early next week whether he will be executed for refusing to recant his faith in Jesus Christ and return to Islam, as the court needs more time to consult with the country’s leadership, trial observers told Worthy News Thursday, October 6.
Iran Threatens To Kill Evangelical Christians Unless They “Repent”, Christians say
Militants with suspected ties to Iranian security forces have threatened to kill nearly a dozen evangelical Christians who fled Iran unless they “repent” and return to Islam, well-informed sources told Worthy News early Sunday, October 2.
Iran Says Pastor Nadarkhani Must Be Executed For Being “Zionist”
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani faced tense hours early Saturday, October 1, after a government official said he should be executed for being a traitorous “Zionist” and committing “security crimes.”
Iran Pastor Refuses To ‘Abandon’ Christ; Execution Perhaps “Thursday”
A young pastor of Iran’s largest house church movement has told an Iranian court he will not “recant” his faith in Christ despite facing execution as early as Thursday, September 29, for abandoning Islam, church sources said.
Iran Court Tells Pastor ‘Recant Faith Or Face Execution’
An Iranian court has asked the pastor of one of Iran’s largest house church movements to abandon his faith in Christ and return to Islam if he wants to avoid execution, a church official told Worthy News Sunday, September 25.
Freedom for two Christians in Iran @ $20,000 each
Two Azeri converts from Islam were both released temporarily on $40,000 bail after appearing before two separate court hearings.
Iran Orders 5 Christians To Report To Prison, Group Says
Iran on Tuesday, September 6, ordered five Iranian Christians, including a heavily pregnant woman, to report to prison on charges linked to their Christian activities, a mission group working in the region said.
Iran: Christian Pastor freed from prison to face trial
Arrested on charges of blasphemy against Islam, Pastor Matthias Haghnejad is now free on bail, according to ASSIST News Service.
Iran: Vahik Abrahamian Released
According to an unconfirmed report from the Farsi News Network, after almost one year in prison, Pastor Vahik Abrahamian was released Aug. 29 and has rejoined his family.
Iran Detains Evangelical Pastor; Whereabouts Unknown
The whereabouts of an evangelical pastor in Iran remained unknown Saturday, August 27, some 10 days after he was detained by Iranian security forces as part of a reported government crackdown on Christian converts, Worthy News established.
Reports: Iran Seizes Thousands of Bibles; Destroys Church
Iranian authorities seized thousands of Bibles in north-west Iran and destroyed a church in the Islamic country’s south-east as part of a wider crackdown on Christianity, Iranian Christians said in messages monitored by Worthy News.
Iran Pastor On Death Row Urges Faith In Christ
An evangelical pastor who faces execution in Iran for refusing to abandon his Christian faith has urged fellow believers to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and the “Word of God” despite persecution, according to a letter obtained by Worthy News.