Turkey: Andrew Brunson court hearing
Family and friends of pastor Andrew Brunson, the American pastor imprisoned in Turkey since October 2016, request renewed prayer ahead of his court appearance on 16 April 2018. Andrew’s wife, Norine, thanks the many people praying and writes: “I believe that this is a...
Iran: Imprisoned Christian granted conditional release
Iranian Christians are thankful that Hadi Asgari, a Christian convert, has been granted conditional release from Evin Prison after posting bail. They request prayer for the upcoming appeal hearing for Hadi, fellow Christian convert Amin Nader Afshari, and Assyrian...
MEC publishes 2017 Annual Report
MEC Annual Report 2017 A 25-page report on MEC’s activities in 2017, including: an overview of the Middle East and North Africa region – and how the regional situation affected Christian communities analysis of trends – in countries, in themes and in numbers...
Algeria: Christian released after serving prison sentence
Algerian Christians invite us to rejoice with them in the release from prison of Slimane Bouhafs, a Christian arrested and imprisoned in 2016. He was released on 1 April having served his sentence. Slimane, aged 51, is from the Kabylie area and chose to convert to...
Turkey: Date set for Andrew Brunson court hearing
Christians in Turkey request continued prayer for pastor Andrew Brunson, who is scheduled to appear in court on 16 April 2018. Andrew was indicted in a 62-page document submitted by the public prosecutor on 13 March charging Andrew with being linked to both the...
Iraq: Christians concerned after spate of deadly violence
Christians in Iraq request prayer following a spate of violence in Baghdad in recent weeks in which Christians and Mandeans were attacked, leaving five dead. On 25 February, gunmen shot 28-year-old Samir Salah-Addin Younis, a Christian father of two. On 10 March, four...
Turkey: Pastor Andrew Brunson indicted and facing life sentence
Christians in Turkey request continued prayer for pastor Andrew Brunson following an official indictment demanding life imprisonment. On 13 March the prosecutor in Izmir province charged Andrew with being a member and leading actor of the terrorist group connected to...
Iran: Update on appeal hearing for Christians in Shiraz
Iranian Christians are thankful for prayer for the 8 March appeal hearing for Eskandar Rezaie and Suroush Saraie. It was reported that the hearing went well, lasting nearly two hours, and that Eskander and Suroush were given the opportunity to respond to all the...
Iran: appeal hearing for Christian converts in Shiraz
Iranian Christians request renewed prayer for the 8 March appeal hearing for Eskandar Rezaie and Suroush Saraie. Both were sentenced on 28 December 2017 to a total of eight years in prison. Both Eskander and Suroush were charged with "acting against national...
Israel: upcoming hearing for Bible Society
The Bible Society in Israel requests prayer for the next hearing in the court case regarding their bookshop in Tel Aviv. The hearing, which will hopefully be the last, is scheduled for 5 March. The Bible Bookshop and distribution centre in Tel Aviv has been in the...
Turkey: state interference in election of Armenian Patriarch
Christians in Turkey request prayer for the Armenian Apostolic Church in Turkey following the state’s interference in the election of a new patriarch. As one of Turkey's officially recognised churches, the Armenian Apostolic Church of Constantinople is subject to a...
Iran: Christians recently imprisoned in Tehran and Tabriz
Iranian Christians request prayer for two more Christian converts in prison: Naser Navard-Goltapeh and Ali Amini. Naser was arrested, along with three Azerbaijani Christians, at a wedding party in June 2016. The Azerbaijanis were released on bail in November 2016 and...