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All articles & reviews tagged with iran

News

February 2019
News > International > Persecution

Iran: More than 100 Christians arrested amidst Govt crackdown

More than 100 Christians have been arrested in Iran in just one week and ordered to cut all contact with religious groups and house churches. They were detained by Iranian authorities, questioned on their involvement in Christian activities, and told to expect a call from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. Christian charity Open Doors UK, which speaks out against persecution of believers, has described the news as ‘highly concerning’. Many of the 114 believers were converts to Christianity from Islam who were accused of proselytising. Conversion to Christianity is an offence punishable by more than ten years’ imprisonment. The recent events are part of a growing...

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By MERF

Article

September 2017
Articles > World Mission

Farsi media ministry

Farsi is the language of Iran, much of Afghanistan and neighbouring communities, totalling about 110 million Farsi-speakers. Except in the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan, Farsi is written in a modified Arabic script. Although many words have been borrowed from Arab neighbours, Farsi’s roots go back to the Indo-European language family, just like English. Sunni-Shia conflict Most Farsi-speaking peoples belong to the Shiite branch of Islam. They separated from Sunni Muslims many centuries ago, after defeat in a bloody battle over the line of succession to the prophet Mohammed. Devoted Shiites commemorate this horrible event annually. Farsi-speaking Iran is the leading Shiite Muslim nation, with...

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By Saeed Mokhlessi

Article

December 2013
Iran

An Iranian finds Christ

Saeed Mokhlessi writes: I was born in Iran in a fairly devout Muslim family. From an early age, we were taught the basic principles of Islam and I was encouraged to believe and obey them. I remember, from the age of 4 or 5 I used to get excited when the month of Ramadan (when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset) was approaching. Although boys are not required to fast till the age of 15, I was eager to do it.       As I grew up in the community, I became known as an upright and religious boy (although I did get up to mischief...

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Article

May 2013
Iran

Growing pressures in Azerbaijan

Churches in Azerbaijan are facing increasing pressure due to government fears of religious extremism. A fact-finding trip by Release International discovered many churches are being denied official registration under tough new regulations.      But, despite the increasing pressures faced by Christians in the former Soviet republic, the church is growing.      Release, which serves persecuted Christians, has produced a DVD highlighting the challenge facing believers in Azerbaijan and featuring interviews with pastors and others. In the fire is available from the Release web site. Oppression Pastor ‘Izzat’ served 18 months behind bars after complaints by Muslim leaders. Thirty police and officials turned up at his...

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Azerbaijan

News

June 2012
News

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan A court in Azerbaijan has ruled to close down Greater Grace Protestant Church in Baku, according to a report from Christian advocacy organisation Release International. This is believed to be the first forced liquidation of a religious group in the country since a tough new Religion Law was passed in 2009. Andy Dipper, chief executive of Release, said, ‘Our concern is that other churches could now be forced to close. The Azerbaijan authorities have long been suspicious of Christianity. Church leaders fear this latest step may be the start of a phase to apply the force of law to eradicate churches and Christian activities’....

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Missionary Spotlight – Iran today
By Iain Wright

Article

September 2009
Iran

Missionary Spotlight – Iran today

Iran today   In the Western world, even in our low times, we are never far from a spiritual oasis of fellowship that will revive the soul. The regular experience of our brethren in Iran is so different.      Here is a family who arrived late to our small gathering. The bus trip was planned to take 48 hours (not a comfortable, air-conditioned coach). In fact it took even longer because the only driver fell asleep at the wheel. The bus left the road and rolled over before coming to rest. The family arrived stiff and bruised but, by the grace of God, otherwise unharmed....

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MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT – King Jesus and Iran
By MERF

Article

May 2006
Iran

MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT – King Jesus and Iran

  In 1978, after forty years of exile, Ayatollah-Ruhollah Khomeini made his triumphal re-entry into Tehran, the capital of Iran. Hundreds of thousands of excited Iranians took to the streets to welcome him and celebrate the beginning of the new Islamic regime.   He had the blessing of Western nations hoping to keep Iran from joining the communist bloc. Shortly before that, the much-hated pro-Western monarch, Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, had departed — a defeated man dying of cancer.   Murderous   Khomeini didn’t waste time. Immediately he declared the ‘Islamic Revolution’, which ‘beginning with this great country Iran will advance to the entire Islamic...

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