Morning Star News’ Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2016

Jihadists fight under the radar in Africa.

(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.

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 […]

Iran Suspected of ‘Forcing Confessions’ to Obtain ‘Evidence’ against Church Leader

Five Christians illegally arrested at a picnic.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Five members of an Iranian house church are missing after government agents arrested them on Friday (Aug. 26) without a warrant and took them to an undisclosed location, according to a leading advocacy group. No information is available on the whereabouts of Ramiel Bet Tamraz, Amin Nader Afshar, Hadi Askary, […]

Iran Levels Serious Charge against Noted Church Leader, Beats Another

Pastor faces fabricated charge of “acting against national security.”

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Iranian authorities charged a well-known pastor with “acts against national security” and beat another as persecution of Christians continued the past month. Youcef Nadarkhani, a pastor once charged with apostasy and then acquitted in 2012, was charged with acting against national security. Summoned to the 13th Branch of the Revolutionary […]

Imprisoned Christian in Iran Hopes for Appeal; Inmate Returns after Medical Leave

Separately, incarcerated woman on hunger strike wins medical furlough.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A convert from Islam sentenced to five years in prison on a concocted charge of “disturbing the national security of Iran” is expected to be granted an appeal this month after waiting more than a year for a hearing. Although there is no evidence that any action will be taken […]

Christian Prisoner in Iran Begins Hunger Strike over Denial of Medical Treatment

Woman with heart condition incarcerated for role in house-church movement.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A convert to Christianity imprisoned for her involvement in the Iranian house-church movement has gone on a hunger strike to protest denial of needed medical treatment, religious freedom advocates said. Maryam Naghash Zargaran, 36, started her hunger strike on Friday (May 27) because a prosecutor has repeatedly denied permission to […]

Amid Crackdown, Prisoner in Iran Encourages Faithful to Stand Strong

Christian sneaks out message to flocks increasingly without pastors.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – In the face of a crackdown that has crippled Iran’s house-church leadership, an imprisoned convert from Islam has managed to sneak a message of encouragement to Iran’s Christians. With Iran’s house churches mushrooming even as the government has imprisoned or harassed most pastors into exile, a Christian held in Rajai […]

Iran Releases U.S.-Iranian Pastor Saeed Abedini in Prisoner Swap

Wife, children excited to see him after more than three years of imprisonment.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Iran released U.S.-Iranian pastor Saeed Abedini today, more than three years after authorities arrested him on charges of “threatening national security” by planting churches, according to several sources. Abedini was released along with four other prisoners, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, in a prisoner swap, Iran’s official Islamic Republic […]

U.S.-Iranian Pastor Abedini’s Ordeal in Iran Tests, Builds Faith of Wife, Children

Addressing president of Iran or her kids, Naghmeh Abedini chooses words carefully.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani yesterday declined to meet with the wife of imprisoned U.S.-Iranian- pastor Saeed Abedini during his trip to the United Nations, days after the Christian’s wife learned he had recently been tortured. Rouhani instead said in a television interview that releasing Iranian criminals held in U.S. prisons […]

Authorities in Iran Increase Pressure on U.S-Iranian Pastor Saeed Abedini, Advocate Says

Jailers threaten to keep him in prison indefinitely.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Iranian authorities over the past month have increased pressure on imprisoned U.S.-Iranian pastor Saeed Abedini by threatening to keep him in prison indefinitely, a legal advocate said. Authorities seem to be taking a “carrot-and-stick” approach to Abedini – burying him under a mountain of new, petty charges while promising him […]