Believers continue to be arrested and imprisoned around the world for the name of Jesus Christ—and in Iran, the price of following Him is still very high.
On September 17, Iran’s Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal affirmed prison sentences against five Iranian Christians. The four named believers are Morteza (Calvin) Faghanpour Sasi, Abolfazl (Benjamin) Ahmadzadeh Khajani, Hesamuddin (Yahya) Mohammad Jenidi, and two other converts from Islam to Christianity whose names have not been released.
Their “crime”? Gathering to worship Jesus, study the Bible, and pray together.
In June 2024, security forces arrested the five believers at their homes and places of work in the cities of Varamin and Pishva, south of Tehran. They were detained at the country’s most infamous prison, Evin, for up to six months. Morteza was reportedly tortured while in custody. They were all eventually released after their families paid very high bails, some as much as $30,000 USD. They remained free for several months before having their sentences upheld in late September.
All five were sentenced to seven years and six months for “educational and promotional activities deviating from and disrupting Islamic law,” seven months for “propaganda against the system,” and Morteza received an additional 17 months for “insulting the leadership.” The so-called charges against these brave men include participating in house churches, online worship meetings, and a Christian training program in Turkey.
The Iranian government is continuing to persecute normal Christian activity, passing laws that make peaceful worship a national security offense. Yet despite the persecution, the Church in Iran is growing at one of the fastest rates in the world. The enemy meant this for evil, but God is using these trials to cause a revival. Even in prison, these believers are sharing the gospel. In secret home meetings, families are finding new hope in Christ. All over the Middle East, stories like these remind us that the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be chained.
“Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison.” — Hebrews 13:3
Their example compels us to live boldly for Christ, where we are. The same Jesus who goes before them in Evin Prison is with us today, too. Let’s not grow complacent about our freedoms—but instead, use them to pray, give, and speak up on behalf of our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.
[Image credit to Middle East Concern]
