Prisoner Located and Since Released on Bail

Middle East Concern 07 October 2021

Ayoub Poor-Rezazade - Photo: Middle East Concern — Ayoub Poor-Rezazade
Photo: Middle East Concern

In the Persecution & Prayer Alert that VOMC published on September 30th, it was reported that three Christians had been arrested while attending a prayer meeting in Rasht, Iran, on September 5th. The report had mentioned that two of the believers were released on bail, but family members were unable to locate Ayoub Poor-Rezazade. See this report for more details.

With thankfulness, we are pleased to announce that Ayoub has since been located and subsequently released by the authorities on October 3rd after posting bail. According to recent reports, Ayoub was taken to the same prison as his friends but had been held in solitary confinement for interrogation about church finances.

Praise God that Ayoub has recently been released on bail. Pray that these three faithful followers of Jesus will be successful in appealing the charges against them. May the Lord speak to the hearts of those in authority politically, convicting them of their need to uphold religious freedom in Iran, and thus ensure all citizens are provided equal rights. Also continue to prayerfully remember the many Christians who are currently being held in Iranian prisons because of their faith in Jesus, advocating before God's righteous throne for their imminent release.

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.

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Photo: Article 18

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

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Mehran Shamloui
Photo: Article 18

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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.

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