Ebrahim Firouzi Dies of Heart Attack

Ebrahim Firouzi
Ebrahim Firouzi
Photo: Article18

Ebrahim Firouzi, an Iranian convert who was arrested several times for his Christian activities, unexpectedly passed away on February 20th from a heart attack. The Christian man's body was found in his home by his brother, who went to check on the believer after not hearing from him for a few days. Ebrahim was only 37 years old.

Following his first arrest in January 2011, Ebrahim was held in custody for several months before being conditionally released. He was arrested again in 2013 and sentenced to six years in prison because of his involvement in a house church. Throughout his time in prison, Ebrahim sought ways to make the Scriptures available to those who were imprisoned with him.

Upon his release in 2019, the persecuted believer was banished to a remote region of Iran for two additional years. During his exile, Ebrahim became a respected member of his new community, where he started his own business and volunteered to serve in local schools. While paying tribute to the deceased Iranian believer, Mansour Borji from Article18 said: "Ebrahim did not lose hope, even during all those years in prison. He had an incredible fighting spirit."

In 2020, Ebrahim was interviewed during his time in exile by Joseph Hovsepian, founder of Hovsepian Ministries. You may view this videotaped interview which has been translated into English. For previously published Persecution & Prayer Alert posts reporting on the opposition Ebrahim endured due his faith in Jesus, along with information about the many other believers imprisoned in Iran, see our country report.

While Ebrahim is assuredly now in heaven rejoicing in the wonderful presence of our Saviour, please prayerfully uphold his family members and friends who are now grieving over the sudden loss of their loved one. As they mourn the end of Ebrahim's young earthly life, may they tangibly experience the peace, love and blessed assurance that comes from the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3). May the Lord also minister to the individual needs of our other Christian brothers and sisters in Iran, ensuring that they are equipped spiritually, emotionally and physically to continue serving as lights amid the darkness of this needy world by conveying the hope of the Gospel.

  • 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
    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.)

  • Over 50 Arrested Christians Accused of Espionage
    A map of Iran has several labels, all showing where Christians were arrested since June 24, 2025.
    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."

  • Convicted Christian Deported and Arrested
    Mehran
    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.)

  • Laleh Saati Receives Conditional Release
    A smiling Laleh is outside, and the sun is shining on her face. A tree is in the background.
    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.