Iraq: intimidation of Nineveh Plain Christians
Iraqi Christians asked us to pray for the town of Bartella, a predominantly Christian town in the Nineveh Plains, east of Mosul, where Christian communities are facing growing intimidation and threats from ethnically Shabak militias. Bartella was among the towns from... read more
Algeria: another church closure in Tizi Ouzou Province
Algerian Christians request prayer following the closure of another church on 6 August. The church in Boudjima, 25km from Tizi Ouzou, was sealed closed by officers of the National Gendarmerie, upon the orders of the governor of Tizi Ouzou Province. This church is... read more
Iran: Update on recent court hearings for Iranian converts
On 27 July Mahrokh (Roksare) Kanbari (65) attended Karaj Islamic Revolutionary Court to answer charges of “acting against national security.” Commenting on the court hearing on Saturday, friends said that the judge was very rude and tried to humiliate Mahrokh after... read more
Iran: Court hearing for converts postponed after judge refuses lawyer
Iranian Christians request prayer for nine Christian converts associated with the “Church of Iran” who attended an aborted court hearing on 24 July. The men were arrested in raids on house churches earlier this year. Seven of them were released on bail, the two... read more
Iran: Sevada Aghasar, conditionally released from prison
Iranian Christians are delighted to report that Sevada Aghasar, an ethnic Armenian, has been conditionally released from prison. Following an unsuccessful appeal, Sevada Aghasar was summoned to serve a five-year prison sentence in 2017, more than two years after he... read more
Iran: Upcoming court hearing for Christian convert
Friends of Christian convert Mahrokh (Roksare) Kanbari request prayer as she has been summoned to Karaj Islamic Revolutionary Court on 27 July. In December 2018, shortly before Christmas, three agents from Iranian intelligence raided the home of Mahrokh (65) and... read more
Syria: Bomb attack on Qamishli church
On Thursday 11 July, the Syriac Orthodox church of the Virgin Mary in Qamishli, North East Syria, was targeted in a car bomb attack. Although there are no known fatalities, state media reported that 11 civilians were injured and that the church and nearby properties... read more
Iran: Cross restored on Tabriz Church
Iranian Christians are delighted to report that the cross has been restored on Tabriz Evangelical Church. On 14 June, MEC issued a prayer request about violations of church property in Iran, including the confiscation of the Evangelical Christian Church of Tabriz. On... read more
Iran: five converts summoned to prison in Karaj
Iranian Christians request prayer for five Christian converts who were summoned to begin serving prison sentences starting 6 July. In December 2017 security agents raided the homes of Amin Khaki, Milad Goudarzi, Shahab Shahi, Yaghub Nateghi and Alireza Nourmohamadi,... read more
Iran: Christian convert family targeted in Bushehr
Iranian Christians request prayer for eight Christian converts recently arrested in the city of Bushehr, south-west Iran, seven of whom are still detained. Human rights organization Article 18 reports that on 1 July intelligence agents raided the homes of Christian... read more
Iran: Church property confiscated by state
Iranian Christians have requested prayer following continued action against the Christian community, including assaults on church property. As a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights (ICCPR) the Islamic Republic of Iran is obliged to... read more