Christians Detained and Questioned

Ismail, Mohammad, Alireza, and Hojjat - Photo: Middle East Concern https://meconcern.org/
Ismail, Mohammad, Alireza, and Hojjat
Photo: Middle East Concern

Four Christian men were detained on April 19th in separate raids throughout Dezful in southwestern Iran. They have been identified as Ismail Narimanpour, Mohammad Ali Torabi, Alireza Vark Shah and Hojjat Lotfi Khalaf.

While in custody, the men were reportedly beaten and questioned about their political beliefs. They were asked about their opinions on the Islamic Revolution and whether they would be participating in upcoming presidential elections. On April 21st, after signing an agreement to immediately report to the Intelligence Office when summoned, the men were temporarily released. It is believed that they had not been incarcerated because of the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Iranian prisons.

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada will be co-hosting a free webinar featuring Dr. Hormoz Shariat of Iran Alive Ministries on the evening of May 27th, providing you and others of your church an opportunity to learn more about what God is powerfully accomplishing throughout Iran, even in the midst of the global pandemic and political oppression. For more details about this upcoming webinar and to register, click here.

Continue to remember these Iranian Christians and others in your prayers, as they boldly persist in spreading the Gospel throughout their nation, despite the opposition they encounter. Pray for the spiritual and physical well-being of all those currently detained for their faith in Christ, asking the Lord to protect, comfort and strengthen them. May He give His followers in Iran the courage to stand firm in their beliefs, even when suffering for Christ.

  • 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

  • Armenian Christian Faces Ten-Year Sentence
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Photo: Article18

    Hakop Gochumyan and his wife Elisa are citizens of Armenia who went to Iran for vacation in August 2023. While the Christian couple and their two children were having dinner at a friend's house, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the property. The authorities took the Christian family to the home of Elisa's grandmother, where the believers had been staying, and proceeded to search the residence. During the raid, Christian books and other personal belongings were confiscated. The couple was then taken to Evin Prison where they faced interrogation and intense psychological torture.