Jim's Random Thoughts and Pictures
Iran: four Christians detained following raid on a church service
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Iranian Christians have requested our prayers following a raid on an officially recognized church in Ahvaz during a service on Friday 23rd December. All attendees, including children, were reportedly detained. All mobiles were confiscated, as was the church’s audio-visual equipment and Christian literature. Most were released within a few hours. However, the church’s pastor (Farhad), his wife (Shahnaz) and two other church members (David and Naser) remain detained. Their whereabouts are unknown.
We are pleased to report that another Iranian Christian, Shahla Rahmati, was released on 20th December having been cleared of all charges against her. She had been detained since 9th March.
Iranian Christians request our prayers that:
a. Farhad, Shahnaz, David and Naser will know the presence and peace of Jesus, and be released soon
b. All church members will know the Spirit’s wisdom and guidance, especially concerning meeting together for worship
c. All confiscated property would be returned
d. Shahla would know the Father’s love and healing as she adjusts to normal life
e. All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him
Open source used: Elam, FCNN
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Website: www.meconcern.org
Iran: fears of increased pressure on Christians
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Iranian Christian leaders have called for prayer for Christians in Iran over the Christmas and New Year period. Pressure continues on Christians, and especially those from Muslim backgrounds, and there are fears that these pressures may intensify in the coming days.
These fears stem partly from the waves of arrests last Christmas and New Year, and also the previous year, in which several dozen believers were detained. Two of those arrested in late December 2010, Farshid and Noorallah, remain in prison.
In addition, several government officials and senior clerics have made public threats against Christians in recent weeks. For example, Mohabat News quotes the Information Minister, Heydar Moslehi, in a speech in November at a Muslim Seminary, as saying, “The house churches are a threat to the youth and the Ministry of Intelligence has already started a serious effort to oppose this movement.”
There is continuing concern about a number of Christians who remain detained. Several have been subjected to harsh treatment and interrogation. Some of those detained, and many of those released during 2011, are awaiting hearings that are often not scheduled for months, compounding uncertainty and anxiety. In most cases in which bail payments have been made, these payments, including property title deeds, remain in the possession of the authorities.
Iranian Christians request our prayers that:
a. Christians throughout Iran will know Jesus’ presence and peace at this time, and His strengthening in whatever pressures they face
b. The authorities will not act against Christians, and not take further unjust action against Christians
c. Those detained will be released soon
d. Those awaiting hearings or verdicts will be formally cleared and bail payments returned
e. Christians throughout Iran will be firm in their faith and clear in their testimony
f. All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.
Open sources used: Mohabat News
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Website: www.meconcern.org
Turkey: updates on trial of murderers of Christians and on Monastery legal cases
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Last week we requested prayer concerning the long-running legal case following the murders of three Christians (Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske) at the Zirve Christian publishing house in Malatya, Eastern Turkey, in April 2007. Five men, aged 19 and 20 at the time, were arrested at the scene and were charged with the murder. Their trial opened in November 2007 and became complicated as a result of efforts to identify those behind the perpetrators.
At the hearing on 16th December no verdicts were issued, contrary to the lawyers’ expectations. However, a witness testified that he had had knowledge of a plot to murder the publishing house staff and informed the authorities one week prior to the attack.
The next hearing is scheduled for 17th February 2012.
Under Turkish law, those accused will be exonerated if they have not been formally convicted and sentenced within five years. Therefore, delays beyond April 2012 may lead to the perpetrators being released.
Further prayer has also been requested for another long-running series of legal cases. We last requested prayer concerning the St. Gabriel Monastery, eastern Turkey, in March 2011. The monastery faces five court cases concerning, among other matters, a land-ownership dispute with the Turkish Treasury. The next hearing in one of the cases is scheduled for 12th January 2012. In another of the cases, an appeal was submitted to the European Court of Human Rights earlier this year but no hearings have yet been scheduled.
Turkish Christians request our continued prayers that:
a. Family members and friends of the Malatya victims will continue to know the peace of Jesus as the trial process continues
b. Justice will be done concerning the perpetrators, and that all those behind them will be identified
c. All those who aided or perpetrated the murders would have a deep conviction about what they have done, and understand the depths of Jesus’ forgiveness
d. The true ownership of all areas of land surrounding St. Gabriel Monastery will be accurately identified
e. All Christians involved will know the Spirit’s enabling, equipping and assisting as they persevere in their efforts to promote justice
f. All judges, other officials, lawyers and journalists involved will hear the gospel of Jesus, and be drawn to the Father’s love, forgiveness and acceptance.
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Web site: www.meconcern.org
Iraq: concerns for safety of Christians over Christmas and New Year
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Iraqi Christian leaders are calling for our prayers during the Christmas and New Year period. Some fear that there will be sectarian attacks during this period, especially as the country adapts to the changed security situation following the formal withdrawal of US military forces.
A number of recent incidents, in which Christians were the victims of violence, have contributed to these fears. In these incidents, whilst Christians were the victims, the precise motives of the attackers are not clear. Typically, violence in Iraq has numerous causes, including economic interests, tribal rivalries, settling of long-standing scores and religious motives.
On 13th December a Christian couple was shot dead in Mosul whilst driving. Their two young daughters, though with them at the time, were not physically injured. On 12th December a 29-year-old man was kidnapped from his family’s store in Erbil, capital of the area administered by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). He was released in a military operation after three days in captivity. On 2nd December there were attacks on a range of businesses, many of them Christian-owned, in Dohuk province within the KRG region. The attacks were perpetrated by extremist Muslims following inflammatory messages in a mosque. The businesses attacked included alcohol stores, hair salons, massage parlours and casinos. The security services acted to prevent further attacks in some locations.
In previous years, Christmas services have been cancelled in some parts of Iraq, or have been restricted to the hours of daylight, because of security concerns.
Iraqi Christians request our prayers that:
a. Church and other community leaders will be wise in the timing of services during the Christmas and New Year period
b. Those affected by recent incidents will know the healing touch and comforting presence of Jesus
c. The authorities will act decisively to provide due protection
d. Peace, stability, justice and the clear rule of law will be established throughout the country.
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Website: www.meconcern.org
Turkey: Update on trial of murderers of Christians
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Over recent years we have requested prayer following the murders of three Christians (Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske) at the Zirve Christian publishing house in Malatya, Eastern Turkey, in April 2007. Five men, aged 19 and 20 at the time, were arrested at the scene, were charged with the murders, and have been held in custody ever since. Their trial opened in November 2007 and became complicated as a result of efforts to identify those behind the perpetrators.
A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, 16th December. Some understand that verdicts and sentences might be issued at this hearing.
Under Turkish law, those accused cannot be detained for more than five years if they have not been formally convicted and sentenced. Therefore, some fear that delays beyond April 2012 will lead to the perpetrators being released.
Recall that in March 2011 the chairman of the panel of three judges was promoted to a higher court, thereby ending his participation in this trial. There were concerns that the judge replacing him would take time to become familiar with the complexities of the case, which might cause further delays. Hearings since then have been brief with no significant developments.
Turkish Christians request our continued prayers that:
a. Family members and friends of the Malatya victims will continue to know the peace of Jesus as the trial process continues
b. Justice will be done concerning the perpetrators, and that all those behind them will be identified
c. There would be renewed international attention towards the Malatya trial
d. All those who aided or perpetrated the murders would have a deep conviction about what they have done, and understand the depths of Jesus’ forgiveness
e. The judges, other officials, lawyers and journalists involved will hear the gospel of Jesus, feel the Spirit’s conviction of sin and be drawn to the Father’s love, forgiveness and acceptance
f. All Christians involved will know the Spirit’s enabling, equipping and assisting as they persevere in their efforts to promote justice
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Web site: www.meconcern.org
Iran: update on pastor sentenced to death
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Iranian Christians thank us for our continued prayer for pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, whose death sentence for apostasy (i.e. leaving Islam) was upheld in provincial court hearings in late September. No written verdict has yet been delivered following those hearings.
It has recently been reported that the Head of the Judiciary had ordered the presiding judge at the provincial court to continue delaying the issuing of the written verdict. Pastor Yousef is to remain detained, and pressure to recant his faith in Jesus is to continue. Recanting his faith would lead to his immediate release.
Recall that Yousef is a pastor within the Full Gospel ‘Church of Iran’ denomination in the northern city of Rasht. He has been detained in prison since October 2009. In September 2010 the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province found him guilty of apostasy and sentenced him to death – a verdict upheld by the Supreme Court in July 2011. The Supreme Court also ordered the original tribunal to clarify whether or not Yousef was ever a practicing Muslim as an adult, and to give him further opportunity to recant his faith in Jesus. He refused to do so during the September 2011 hearings. The judge’s verbal ruling acknowledged that Yousef had not been a practicing Muslim as an adult but upheld the death sentence because he was from Muslim ancestry and therefore guilty of apostasy.
Iranian Christians rejoice that Yousef’s life has been spared thus far. They request our continued intercession that:
a. Yousef’s death sentence will be revoked and his conviction overturned
b. Yousef, his wife, Fatemeh, and their two sons will know the comfort, presence and hope of Jesus, and that the family will be reunited soon
c. Christians throughout Iran will not be intimidated but will know the Lord’s enabling and guidance
d. All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him
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Website: www.meconcern.org
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