ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – Security forces arrested an Iranian pastor in Tehran after raiding his house and pressuring his church to close as a crackdown on Christians intensified ahead of June elections. Robert Asserian was arrested Tuesday (May 21) during a prayer meeting at his Central Assemblies of God Church after authorities entered his house […]
Iranian Pastor Arrested as Crackdown in Iran Intensifies
Church pressured to close as elections near.
May 23, 2013 By - Leave a Comment
Iranian-American Pastor Spends Birthday in Solitary Confinement
Family members no longer allowed to visit Saeed Abedini.
May 7, 2013 By - Leave a Comment
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – An Iranian-American pastor spent his 33rd birthday in solitary confinement today, suffering from untreated injuries from beatings by prisoners and officials in an Iranian prison. Saeed Abedini has spent six months in Tehran’s harsh Evin Prison, known for housing political dissidents and government protestors, where he is serving an eight-year sentence […]
Massive Bail Required of Christian Prisoners in Iran
Medical personnel refuse to treat Pastor Abedini, saying he is ‘unclean,’ according to letter.
March 30, 2013 By - Leave a Comment
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – Four Christian converts from Islam arrested last year for alleged evangelistic activities had to post enormous bail amounts in order to be released from an Iranian prison. Soroush Saraei, Mohammad Roghangir, and Massoud Rezaei were released at midnight March 19 after each posted $80,000 in bail, according to the Iranian media […]
Five Iranian Christians on Trial for Practicing Faith
Judge sets massive bail terms for converts accused of ‘threatening national security.’
March 12, 2013 By - Leave a Comment
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – Five Christian converts arrested last year in Iran went on trial on Sunday (March 10) for leaving Islam and were handed enormous bail terms. A judge in Shiraz set bail at $200,000 for Mohammed Roghangir and $80,000 for the other four. The next date for the trial has not been […]
Iranian-American Pastor Abedini Writes of Torture, Pressure to Renounce Faith
Letter from Evin Prison in Iran reveals abuse by officials, inmates.
February 25, 2013 By - Leave a Comment
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – An Iranian-American pastor imprisoned for planting house churches in Iran years ago writes that he is undergoing torture, death threats, and pressure to renounce his faith from prison officials and inmates. Saeed Abedini, 32, described his ordeal in a letter to family members that was released by his U.S.-based attorneys. […]
Iran Sentences Pastor Abedini to Eight Years in Prison
Iranian-American church leader accused of ‘threatening national security.’
January 27, 2013 By - Leave a Comment
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – Iranian-American pastor Saeed Abedini was sentenced to eight years in Iran’s most notorious prison today for allegedly threatening “national security” by planting house churches years ago. Judge Pir-Abassi of Branch 26 of the Iranian Revolutionary Court sentenced the 32-year-old pastor. Sentencing in this court most likely required the approval of […]
Will We Be Their Voice?
Bill would create special envoy for religious minorities in the Middle East/South Central Asia.
January 17, 2013 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – Christians worldwide just celebrated the birth of Jesus. For many in the West this was a festive season marked by worship services, gift-giving and time with family and friends. But for the church in the Middle East, fear of persecution cast a long, dark shadow over the Christmas holiday. Oppression […]
Iranian-American Detained in Iran Facing Death Penalty
Pastor beaten, threatened with hanging.
January 15, 2013 By - Leave a Comment
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – An Iranian-American who will go on trial in Iran on Monday (Jan. 21) for apostasy, or leaving Islam, has been beaten and threatened with the death penalty during interrogation, sources said. Saeed Abedini, 32, will have his case handled by a judge notorious for handing death sentences to human rights […]
Iran Re-Arrests Pastor Nadarkhani on Christmas Day
Move termed a deliberate message of hostility toward Christians.
January 1, 2013 By - Leave a Comment
Update: Youcef Nadarkhani was released on Jan. 7. See https://morningstarnews.org/other-press/ ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – An Iranian pastor freed from prison in September after nearly three years of detainment was re-arrested on Christmas Day in a move that human rights groups consider intentional harassment for rejecting Islam. Youcef Nadarkhani, 35, had faced the death penalty […]
Religious ‘Cleansing’ in the Middle East a Growing Threat
Christian communities under attack in the region.
January 1, 2013 By - 1 Comment
(Morning Star News) When Iran’s holocaust-denying President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proclaims, “Israel must be wiped off the map,” the United States rightly takes the threat of genocide seriously. President Obama, like his predecessor, is committed to preventing the eradication of the people of Israel. Conservative U.S. Christian leadership, as reflected by Christians United for Israel, has […]