Believers
suffer in Iran
Youcef and Tina Nadarkhani |
Youcef was arrested in 2009, and convicted a year later of apostasy (abandoning Islam). On appeal, the Iranian Supreme Court sent the decision back to the Gilan court to consider other evidence. Prayer and international pressure has given the court anxiety about a ruling, so they have appealed twice to the Ayatollah, but he has not responded.
Already during Eid 2011, hundreds of prisoners have been pardoned in Morocco, Egypt and Dubai. There is a call for urgent action during the next two days to secure a pardon for Pastor Nadarkhani during Eid. Continue to pray for brother Youcef, that God will sustain him and give him courage and boldness to testify to those around him. Pray Ephesians 6:18-20 for him.
While we await Pastor
Youcef’s verdict, other Iranian believers and pastors suffer. Five were convicted
of crimes against the Islamic Order on 3/8/2011 in Shiraz, Iran, and sentenced
to one year in prison. The judge ruled that they were
not guilty of an additional charge of blasphemy against Islam, but the
prosecutor has appealed this verdict. They are therefore still awaiting a
second trial for blasphemy. All five -- 3 men, 2 women -- began a
one-year prison sentence on Sept 25.
Mehdi "Petros" Foroutan |
The crime of Pastor Mehdi "Petros" Foroutan, 27, was evangelism, and
his habit of sharing Jesus with others has made trouble for him in prison. On
Oct 17, Petros was put into solitary confinement for evangelizing Muslims in
the prison, but he was returned to the general prison area Nov 1. One of the
imprisoned women, Nazly Belyad, is seven months pregnant, and there is
concern for her and her baby.
Behnam Irani |
Pray
the authorities will have mercy on these Christians, especially Nazly who is
expecting soon, and for the disappointment for Pastor Behnam and his family.
Pray they will not despair but instead they will keep their eyes on Jesus,
persevere in their faith, and not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 10:32-39;
12:1-3).Ask the Lord to protect them while in prison
and pray for their release. Pray also for the prison guards.
Gaddafi's fall of no benefit for Libyan Christians
LIBYA– The fall of Gaddafi has not helped Christians in Libya. On Oct 24, National
Transitional Council leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil declared Libya to be
"liberated." In a blow to religious freedom, Jalil declared that the
law against polygamy will be repealed, Islamic banking will be adopted, and
Shariah (Islamic) Law will form the basis for all Libyan law. Just as in Iraq
and Afghanistan, the supremacy of Shariah law will prohibit fitna (anything
that could shake the faith of a Muslim like evangelism), blasphemy (criticizing
Islam), and apostasy (leaving Islam). Please pray for all Christians in Libya.
Ask the Lord to protect them and make them courageous followers of Christ (2
Timothy 1:7). Pray that the Lord, in his good timing, will bring genuine
religious freedom to this nation.
Azerbaijan to criminalize religious literature
AZERBAIJAN
– Just north of Iran on the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan’s parliament is set to
adopt prison terms and hefty fines Nov. 15 for people who produce or distribute
religious literature without first submitting to compulsory state censorship.
Those found guilty will be subject to up to five years imprisonment or maximum
fines of nearly nine years' official minimum wage. The punishments are in
proposed amendments to the Criminal and Administrative Codes, which were
approved by committee on October 28. Pray the Lord will flood this nation with
His Word and that the gospel will continue to spread in spite of these
restrictions. Pray the Church in Azerbaijan will grow in number and in faithfulness.
Pray the Lord will bless their efforts as they act as witnesses to Him. Pray
that religious freedom will be respected in Azerbaijan.
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