JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) – Arrests of Christians in Iran usually spike as Christmas approaches, but this year has been especially severe, sources said. More than 150 Christians have been detained across the officially Shia Muslim country in the last month, and arrests are expected to continue. “The current situation has been described by some as […]
Spike in Arrests of Christians in Iran Especially Severe this Christmas Season, Sources Say
Government trying to intimidate Iranians interested in Christianity, analysts say.
December 20, 2018 By - Leave a Comment
Arrest of Converts Shows Close Surveillance of Christians in Iran, Advocate Says
Detention of two men planning to meet indicates 'close monitoring.'
November 21, 2018 By - Leave a Comment
JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) – Two Christian converts from Islam planning to meet in a northern city of Iran were detained on the same day, part of what rights advocates say could be part of a rash of arrests in the area. Behnam Ersali and Davood Rasooli, both of Karaj, were arrested on Friday (Nov. 16) […]
Crack-Down on Christians in Iran Continues with Two More Prison Sentences
Regime threatened by rampant growth of Christianity, advocates say.
October 12, 2018 By - Leave a Comment
JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) – Rights groups learned last week that two Christians in Iran have been sentenced to prison, the latest in a series of convictions on fabricated charges. Saheb Fadaei, already serving a 10-year prison sentence in Tehran, and Fatimeh Bakherti, both converts from Islam, were sentenced on Sept. 22 to 18 months and […]
House-Church Members in Iran Reportedly Sentenced to Year in Prison
Authorities continue to lash out at Christians.
August 17, 2018 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – A convert from Islam in Iran said he and 11 other Christians were sentenced to a year in prison for “inclination to the land of Christianity” among other charges, according to Mohabat News. “Interrogations were obviously indicating that they were looking for confession to communications with [those] abroad, especially America, Britain […]
Christians in Iran Seized from Homes, including Violent Imprisonment of Pastor
Yousef Nadarkhani and son beaten, tasered, local reports say.
July 25, 2018 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – Three Christians in Iran were arrested from their homes today and yesterday following the violent arrest of pastor Yousef Nadarkhani on Sunday (July 22), according to advocacy group Middle East Concern (MEC). Pastor Nadarkhani, a convert from Islam like the others arrested, was awaiting a summons to begin a 10-year prison […]
Hunger Strikes in Iran Protest Upsurge in Harsh Sentences, Treatment of Christians
A counter-message for the signal the government is sending.
July 31, 2017 By - Leave a Comment
JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) – Two Christian prisoners in Iran went on hunger strikes to protest increasingly harsh treatment of those arrested for house-church activities. Since June 2016, courts in Iran have given 11 Christians prison sentences of at least 10 years, mostly on charges related to house-church activities for converts from Islam, according to advocacy […]
Harsh Punishments Meted Out to Christians in Iran as Tehran Sends Chilling Signal
Converts from Islam sentenced to 10 years in prison.
July 13, 2017 By - Leave a Comment
JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) – The latest in a string of harsh sentences against church leaders in Iran has been handed down to four Christian converts for promoting Christianity, according to human rights activists. Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, along with deacons Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie, were sentenced to 10 years in prison in a […]
Christians Imprisoned in Iran Pine under Biased Justice System, Advocates Say
Converts from Islam said to face delays, denials and deceit.
March 31, 2017 By - Leave a Comment
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Convert from Islam Ebrahim Firoozi learned only in the past week that an Iranian appeals court in December upheld his five-year prison sentence for crimes related to practicing his faith, advocates reported. At the same time, the appeal of three men sentenced to 80 lashes for drinking Communion wine has […]
Morning Star News’ Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2016
Jihadists fight under the radar in Africa.
January 6, 2017 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – While war in the Middle East dominated international headlines, Islamic extremists in the shadows were taking jihad to Christian civilians in Africa with unprecedented intensity in 2016. In Nigeria, Muslim ethnic Fulanis looked less like nomadic herdsmen and more like well-armed, well-funded jihadist militants. Close Muslim relatives and Islamist village mobs […]
Christians in Iran Appeal Sentence of 80 Lashes for Drinking Communion Wine
Pastor Behnam Irani released.
October 29, 2016 By - Leave a Comment
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – Three Iranian Christians sentenced to receive 80 lashes for drinking wine during a Communion service filed an appeal Wednesday (Oct. 25) to have their case overturned, a noted advocacy group reported. In a trial that lasted a mere 10 minutes, the three converts from Islam, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb […]