Iran: Imprisoned pastor denied surgery

Pastor Behnam Irani

IRAN – Imprisoned Pastor Behnam Irani has contracted a blood infection with a fever and is barely able to speak in addition to bloody stools, possibly untreated inflammatory bowel disease.

VEVAK, the Intelligence and Security arm of Iran’s Mullahs, is now denying Behnam access to a doctor and surgery. Instead of condemning him for apostasy and executing him, they are hoping to kill him slowly in prison. VEVAK is considered a terrorist organization by the United States.

Pray for God to do something great in Behnam’s life, something so beautiful that many Iranians come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Brother Behnam was asked, “How can you stay in this prison for six years with all these killers?”

He responded, “If Jesus asked me to stay in prison for 10 years with them, I would be happy to do it.” His faith remains strong, he trusts in the wisdom and love of Jesus Christ, and so does his family. They remain steadfast and strong in faith in the midst of these great trials.
Source: Present Truth Ministries

NORTH KOREA - Though North Korea has eased a number of restrictions, such as bans on Western foods, since Kim Jong Un succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il, there is no evidence of any improvement in the condition of the persecuted church there. The regime still has up to 70,000 Christians locked away in virtual concentration camps. A Christian believer and three generations of his or her family can still go to prison for life just for owning a Bible.

Believers in North Korea continue to tread softly because of the nation's history of persecution as well as the message from the new dictator that "he is in control" and "will do anything to keep hold of power. Open Doors USA lists North Korea No. 1 on its list of the worst persecutors of Christians in the world. Source: WND

UZBEKISTAN - There has been an increase in confiscations of privately owned religious books from homes during raids. Associated with this have been violations of legal due process, including denials of legal representation, misrepresentation of whether a defendant has pleaded guilty, verdicts not being provided within the time laid down in law, and so-called "expert analyses" that have confused Christian books with Jehovah's Witness books.

As police confiscated a Uzbek Bible, a Russian Bible and a book by John Bunyan from one Christian, they said, "Don't you know that it is prohibited to keep such books at home?" Police said the books would be sent for "expert analysis" by the Religious Affairs Committee and that their owner would be fined. Source ASSIST News