ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – Security forces this week arrested an Iranian pastor in Tehran and announced that his church was closed as a crackdown on Christians intensified ahead of June elections, sources said. Robert Asserian was arrested Tuesday (May 21) during a prayer meeting at his Central Assemblies of God Church after authorities entered his […]
Iranian Pastor Arrested, Church Closed in Tehran
Crackdown on Christians intensifies as elections near.
May 24, 2013 By -
Iranian Pastor Arrested as Crackdown in Iran Intensifies
Church pressured to close as elections near.
May 23, 2013 By -
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 […]
Teacher Accused of Blasphemy in Egypt Released on Bail
Investigation continues even though school, government found no wrongdoing.
May 15, 2013 By -
CAIRO, Egypt (Morning Star News) – A Coptic Christian teacher in Egypt accused of committing blasphemy and evangelizing in school was released yesterday after posting nearly $3,000 in bail. A judge reversed a May 11 order that elementary social studies teacher Dimyana Obeid Abd Al-Nour remain in jail for 15 days after she posted bail of […]
Jail Time Extended for Teacher Accused of Blasphemy in Egypt
Study shows Christians disproportionately accused, sentenced.
May 13, 2013 By -
CAIRO, Egypt (Morning Star News) – A judge in Egypt on Saturday (May 11) ordered 15 days of additional incarceration for a Coptic Christian teacher jailed last week on accusations of blasphemy and evangelism. Three elementary schoolchildren and some teachers in the village of Al-Edisat, Luxor Province had complained on April 10 about social studies teacher […]
Iranian-American Pastor Spends Birthday in Solitary Confinement
Family members no longer allowed to visit Saeed Abedini.
May 7, 2013 By -
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 […]
Bomber of Messianic Jewish Family in Israel Imprisoned
Explosive planted in Purim gift basket nearly killed adolescent.
April 14, 2013 By -
CAIRO, Egypt (Morning Star News) – After five years of waiting for justice, a Messianic Jewish pastor in Israel says he is satisfied with the sentence given to an ultra-Orthodox, Jewish nationalist who bombed his home and almost killed his son. U.S. émigré Jack (Yakov) Teitel, 40, was sentenced on Tuesday (April 9) to two life […]
Turkish Church’s Faith Shines after Foiled Assassination Plot
Pastor, congregation undaunted after harrowing reminder of religio-political realities in Turkey.
April 10, 2013 By -
IZMIT, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Pastor Emre Karaali beams as he discusses the number of first-time visitors at his church’s Easter service – less than three months after a foiled plot to assassinate him that involved two visitors who pretended to be church members for a year. Police have released all but one of the […]
Christian Killed in Attack on Coptic Mourners in Egypt
Rocks, fire bombs, gunfire greet mourners leaving funeral of four slain Christians.
April 7, 2013 By -
CAIRO, Egypt (Morning Star News) – Coptic Christians attending a funeral service here today for four Copts killed two days earlier in an anti-Christian rampage were in turn attacked themselves by at least 200 Muslim rioters. The incident, which started with a few dozen men pelting the mourners with stones, quickly escalated into a massive attack […]
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 -
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 […]
Iraq: When the Lights Go Off and the Dust Settles
You may not hear much about it, but ethno-religious cleansing in Iraq has not ceased.
March 25, 2013 By -
(Morning Star News) – Men running, women pleading for God’s mercy, children screaming out of fear, older women trapped under rubble and thick dust rising in the air. This has been a recurring scene in Iraqi cities for close to a decade. Since June 26, 2004, Assyrian (also known as Chaldean and Syriac) churches have […]