Algeria: update on Christian in blasphemy case
On 5th and 8th August Middle East Concern sent out prayer requests from Algeria for Slimane Bouhafs (49), a Christian man who has been given a heavy fine and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment - the maximum punishment for blasphemy against Islam and its Prophet....
Sudan: update on detained church leaders
Christians in Sudan have requested further prayers for four church leaders detained by the Sudanese authorities. The trial of the four Christians has now begun, and the second court hearing was held on Monday 22nd August. As expected, the four have been charged with...
Algeria: update on Christian in blasphemy case
On 5th August Middle East Concern distributed a prayer request for a Christian man in Algeria arrested on 31st July and accused of blasphemy against Islam. Slimane Bouhafs (49) had published a message on social media about the light of Jesus overcoming the lie of...
Algeria: Christian in blasphemy case
Christians in Algeria request prayer for a believer from a Muslim background who is due to appear before a judge on charges connected with blasphemy against Islam. This brother comes from the Kabylie area (from the province of Sétif, 300km east of Algiers), is 49...
Sudan: three Christians detained
Since mid-December Sudan has been detaining three Sudanese Christians. Abdulmonem Abdumawla Issa Abdumawla was detained on 17th December, 2015. The next day two pastors from the Sudan Church of Christ were detained, Kuwa Shamal Abazmam Kurri and Hassan Abduraheem Kodi...
Turkey: Kayseri Christians seek place of worship
Christians from Kayseri in Turkey request prayer about ongoing legal issues as they try to obtain a recognised place of worship. Kayseri, a city in central Anatolia, has a growing Christian community of between 1,500 and 2,000 people according to Muammer Karakaya,...
Iran: update on Christian prisoner
Friends and family of Christian prisoner Maryam Naghash Zargaran are relieved and pleased to report that Maryam has ended her recent hunger strike. Maryam, who was granted medical furlough for a range of health issues in June 2016, returned to Evin Prison, Tehran on...
Iran: pastor charged with action against national security
Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, sentenced to death for apostasy and later acquitted in 2012, has now been charged with “acting against national security”. On 24th July Yousef Nadarkhani was summoned to the 13th Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht. He was formerly...
Iran: Christian prisoner denied release
Christian prisoner Maryam Naghash Zargaran has been denied unconditional release by an Iranian court at the request of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS). Maryam, who was granted medical furlough for a range of health issues in June 2016, returned to Evin...
Turkey: church buildings targeted during coup
It is reported that there were two cases of church buildings being targeted on the night of 15th July during the attempted military coup in Turkey. In Trabzon on the Black Sea coast a group of about ten people attacked the Catholic church of Santa Maria. They used...
Iran: four Christians arrested, Amin Khaki freed
Relatives and friends request prayer for three Azeri Christians and an Iranian Christian who were arrested on 24th June and remain in detention in Tehran. On Friday 24th June security agents raided an engagement party in Tehran attended by Eldar Gurbanov, Yusif...
Iran: Christian prisoner physically abused
Ebrahim Firouzi, a Christian prisoner in Rajai Shahr Prison in Iran, has suffered physical abuse at the hands of prison guards when he was forced to attend an appeal hearing. On 21st August 2013 Ebrahim was arrested with two friends during a raid by plain-clothed...