Jailed Iranian Pastor Behnam Irani Unconscious; Suffering from Ulcer

ICC Note:

“Irani has been severely beaten while in Karaj's Ghezel Hesar Prison– allegedly for crimes against national security but really for holding house church services and leading people to Christ. He has been finding blood in his stool, Present Truth Ministries reported Monday. After the hospital visit, it was discovered that the pastor was suffering from a bleeding ulcer,” the Christian Post reports.

By Ethan Cole

7/18/2012 Iran (Christian Post) – Iranian pastor Behnam Irani, who is serving a five-year sentence, has finally been taken to the military hospital after becoming so ill that he became unconscious within the last week.

Irani has been severely beaten while in Karaj's Ghezel Hesar Prison– allegedly for crimes against national security but really for holding house church services and leading people to Christ. He has been finding blood in his stool, Present Truth Ministries reported Monday. After the hospital visit, it was discovered that the pastor was suffering from a bleeding ulcer.

"We are thankful that he has been allowed to see a doctor and is being treated for his illness, but since the situation is so serious, we ask for your prayers for his healing," wrote Present Truth Ministries in the update.

In February, popular American pastor Rick Warren had tweeted a message urging his followers to pray for Irani: "Pray for our dear pastor Behnam Irani who's been severely beaten in prison in Iran for preaching Jesus."

The 41-year-old pastor from Karaj, Iran, became a follower of Jesus Christ in 1992, and a pastor ten years later. He has been arrested twice in connection to his house church activities, but has been charged with crimes against national security. He began serving his five-year sentence in May 2011. The father of two is regularly beaten in prison by inmates and guards and his health is failing, including starting to lose his eyesight, difficulty with walking, and now a bleeding ulcer. His family worries that he may die in prison in the next few months if his situation doesn't improve.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 19th, 2012 at 12:26 am and is filed under Countries, Iran, Middle East, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.