Turkey: House arrest for Andrew Brunson
Andrew Brunson has been released from prison due to health concerns and is now under house arrest. On 25 July the 2nd Criminal Court of Izmir ruled that Andrew could be released from prison and be kept under house arrest, as requested by Andrew and his lawyer. At a... read more
Iran: Further arrests in Rasht
Friends of Yasser Mossayebzadeh, Mohammadreza Omidi and Saheb Fadaie request prayer following the arrest of Mohammadreza and Saheb at their homes yesterday evening (24 July) and of Yasser today (25 July). This follows the arrest of their pastor, Yousef Nadarkhani on... read more
Iran: church leader arrested with unnecessary force
Friends of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani request prayer following his violent arrest on 22 July. About ten Iranian police officers were involved, using unnecessary force on Yousef and his son, despite their offering no resistance. On 6 July, 2017, Yousef Nadarkhani, along... read more
Turkey: Judge refuses to release Andrew Brunson
Today (18 July) there was a court hearing for American pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey. This was the third hearing, following hearings on 16 April and 7 May. Despite hopes for Andrew’s release, the judge ordered that he remain imprisoned as the trial process... read more
Iran: Pastor’s son receives verdict
Ramiel Bet Tamraz and a friend have each been sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for “acting against national security” by joining house churches. Judge Ahmadzadeh oversaw the hearing on 18 June and delivered the verdict on 11 July. There is likely to... read more
Turkey: Prayer reminder for upcoming hearing
Please pray for the upcoming hearing on 18 July for American pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey. Andrew faces charges related to terrorism and espionage that could result in a 35-year prison sentence. This is the third hearing, following hearings on 16 April and 7 May.... read more
Iran: Mohammadali Yassaghi freed from detention
Friends of Mohammadali Yassaghi (Estifan) praise the Lord for his release from Babol Prison in Mazandaran Province, North Iran. On 1 June MEC requested prayer for Mohammadali, a member of the ‘Church of Iran’, praying that he would be soon freed and able... read more
Algeria: Another Church Re-opens
Algerian Christians rejoice in the re-opening of a church in El Ayaida (35km east of Oran) which had been closed in January 2018. However, there is still need for prayer in the face of continued government pressure, with several churches remaining closed. The church... read more
Iran:court hearing for pastor’s son
Iranian Christians request prayer following a court hearing on 18 June at Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Ramiel Bet Tamraz, an Assyrian Christian, and another man, a Christian convert, who has asked for his name to be withheld, were both charged with... read more
Algeria: two churches re-open, though pressures continue
As Algerian Christians continue to request prayer in the face of pressure by the government, they are grateful that two recently-closed churches in Oran Province have been permitted to re-open. Churches in Ain Turk and Oran were closed in November 2017 and February... read more
Palestine: minor incident with priest
Christians in Jerusalem and Bethlehem are thankful for the reconciliatory response to a recent incident involving a Franciscan priest in Bethlehem, but are concerned that a minor incident has become exaggerated and politicized. On Friday 1 June, Father Fadi Shallufi... read more