Christian Falsely Accused of Drug Trafficking

09 August 2006

^{Photos from}^{Compass Direct}^{, used by permission}

When Issa Motamedi Mojdehi and his wife Parvah chose the name Micah for their newborn son in January, Islamic authorities took note of the biblical name and began investigating the couple from the city of Resht in northern Iran. According to an August 8 report from Compass Direct, Issa (31) was arrested on false charges of drug trafficking on July 24. Secret police have told him that his real charges are abandoning Islam. Issa could face execution unless he recants his Christian faith.

Issa and Parvah are members of the Resht Free Evangelical Church, a small house congregation. The couple have an eight-year-old daughter, Martha, in addition to their infant son. There are rumours that Parvah may also be arrested on drug charges. They have been unable to find a lawyer who is willing to take the case.

Pray that Issa will receive full and fair representation in court. Pray that he will find a lawyer to defend him. Pray that he will be exonerated and free to return to his family. Pray that God will strengthen Parvah during this time and that she will demonstrate an unwavering commitment to Christ that will draw her children into a close walk with the Lord as they grow up (Deuteronomy 11:18-20, 2 Timothy 1:5).

For more information on the persecution facing Iranian Christians, click here. The feature article of the September edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter will share testimonies of the courageous witness of Christians in Iran. To sign up today for a free subscription, go to our Newsletter Page.

Current Ministry Fund
By funding television broadcasts, VOMC is making it possible for a vast audience of viewers to be reached throughout Iran with the "Good News" of Jesus' love via satellite.

Project Fund: Underground Church
Country Information
Designation
Persecuted

Population
87,590,873 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity
Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes

Religion (%)
Islam (98.5), Christian (0.7), Baha'i (0.3), agnostic (0.3), other (0.2)

Leader
Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (1989)

Government type
Theocratic republic

Legal system
Religious legal system based on secular and Islamic law

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Iran
As the Gospel message goes forth over the airwaves, may the growth of the church continue to multiply despite persecution. Pray that the Iranian government will be open to change, allowing full rights and protection for its non-Muslim citizens as well. In the meantime, may those who are forced to flee the country find safe refuge and help so they can live in peace and worship the Lord with freedom.

Iran News

Retrial Denied for Imprisoned Believer

Mehran Shamloui
Photo: Article 18

Iran's Supreme Court has recently rejected the application for a retrial that was submitted on behalf of Mehran Shamloui, a Christian believer who is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence for his participation in house church activities. Recipients of previously published Persecution & Prayer Alert reports may recall that Mehran had fled to Türkiye in search of refuge. While there, the accused Iranian was apprehended and forced to return to Iran, where he had subsequently been arrested. (The initially posted report regarding Mehran's arrest may be reviewed here.)

Read more...
Over 50 Arrested Christians Accused of Espionage

A map of Iran, marking the arrests
of Christians since June 24, 2025.
(Click on the image for a larger view.)
Photo: Article18

Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) recently reported that over 50 Christians have been arrested since the end of the recent conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025. The country's intelligence agency labelled the detained believers as "Mossad mercenaries," claiming that they had been trained by churches abroad and were now operating "under the guise of the Zionist Christian evangelization movement."

Read more...
Convicted Christian Deported and Arrested

Mehran Shamloui
Photo: Article 18

On March 8th, Mehran Shamloui was one of three Christians convicted in Iran for "propaganda" and membership in an alleged "opposition group." He was sentenced to more than ten years in prison. (For more details, see this report.)

Read more...
Laleh Saati Receives Conditional Release

Laleh Saati
Photo: Article18

Laleh Saati is a Christian convert and former asylum-seeker who was incarcerated in February 2024 and sentenced to two years in prison. (For more information on the imprisonment of this 46-year-old Iranian follower of Jesus, visit this page.) Throughout Laleh's time in custody, concerns have been raised about her physical health and psychological well-being. Most recently, it was reported that the Christian woman was denied needed medical treatment for a hand injury that had occurred as a result of a fall.

Read more...