Iran

Parvaneh Sarabadi, a convert to Christianity from Islam who is now living in Sweden, fears being deported back to Iran where probable persecution awaits her. “Converting from Islam to any religion in Iran is considered apostasy and is punishable by death. If these Christians are deported to Iran, there are concerns that they will be treated as apostates,” Mohabat News reports.

Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of Pastor Saeed, an American sentenced to eight years in prison for his Christian faith in Iran, broke down while testifying on Capitol Hill last week, saying she has no heart to tell their kids that daddy might never survive if the government fails to protect him, the Christian Post reports. Saeed grew up in Iran and converted to Christianity at age 20. Now living in the States with US citizenship, he has continued to travel back to Iran to see family and conduct Christian charity work. He was arrested in July while working on a non-sectarian orphanage project, though the underlining reason for his arrest was for his Christian faith and activities.

Three Iranian Christians were released from prison on bail Tuesday after spending five months behind bars, Bos News Life reports. Other Christians, including Pastor Behnam Irani who is suffering from health problems, remain behind bars.

Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of Pastor Saeed, an American sentenced to eight years in prison for his Christian faith in Iran, is on her way to Washington to press lawmakers to fight for her husband's freedom, Fox News reports. “He has been in that brutal prison long enough. He hasn’t broken any laws. It’s not just Saeed, there are many others. They are being persecuted because of their beliefs, and I hope this hearing sheds light on other cases as well,” Naghmeh told Fox News.

The asylum applications of two Iranian Christians living in Sweden were denied and there is fear that the men will be deported back to Iran where probable persecution awaits them. “Converting from Islam to any religion in Iran is considered apostasy and is punishable by death. If these Christians are deported to Iran, there are concerns that they will be treated as apostates,” Mohabat News reports.

Five converts to Christianity who were arrested in October when security forces raided an underground house church in Shiraz, Iran were issued exorbitant bail terms when appearing in court on Monday, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. The Revolutionary Court set the bail for one of the Christians, Mohammed Roghangir, at $200,000, while the bail for the others was $20,000 each. “Iranian authorities continue to characterize legitimate religious activities as crimes against the state," said CSW advocacy director Andrew Johnston.

Five converts to Christianity who were arrested in October when security forces raided an underground house church in the city of Shiraz are scheduled to begin trail in Iran’s Revolutionary Court this week, Fox News reports. The Christians were charged with disturbing public order, evangelizing, threatening national security and engaging in Internet activity that threatens the government, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The Christians may face a lengthy prison term.

An Iranian Christian convert from Islam seeking asylum in Holland was murdered on February 18, Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) reports. It is unclear whether the murder was persecution related, but converts to Christianity are often harassed and sometimes killed by Muslims in the Middle East for leaving Islam. “The shocking news of this senseless murder has brought grief and sorrow to the local Christians, Iranian-Christian community, and asylum seekers across the country,” reported FCNN.

Naghmeh, the wife of Saeed Abedini, an American pastor recently sentenced to eight years in prison for his Christian faith in Iran, tells their story on the Jay Sekulow show. “She described how Saeed’s wrongful imprisonment in Iran for his faith has affected their family and how the support of hundreds of thousands across the globe has meant so much to their family,” the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) reports. Click here to hear the interview.

Five Iranian Christians will appear in court March 10 on charges of proselytizing and acting against national security, among other, the Christian Post reports.  "Once again Iranian Christians face charges couched in political terms that in reality stem from their choice of faith and desire to exercise the right to worship in community with others,” said Andrew Johnston, advocacy director for Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

The health of pastor Benham Irani, who was arrested in 2006 and sentenced to six years imprisonment in Iran for his faith, is quickly deteriorating, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports. Irani has reportedly been denied medical treatment and there is grave concern that his life could be endangered if he is not released soon.

Shahrzad, a 25-year-old woman, and Sam, 27, have been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison for more than 50 days, Bos News Life reports. The Christians were reportedly charged with the "formation and promotion of house churches and holding gatherings intended for committing crimes." It is uncertain when they will be released. “Iranian Christians say the detentions are aimed at intimidating the growing house church movement and an attempt by the government to halt the spread of Christianity in the country, where at least 100,000 evangelical believers have been reported,” reports Bos News Life.

Saeed Abedini, an American pastor sentenced to eight years in prison for his Christian faith in Iran, said he is enduring “horrific pressures” to renounce his faith in Christ, Saeed’s supporters told Fox News. “My eyes get blurry, my body does not have the strength to walk, and my steps become very weak and shaky,” Saeed recently wrote to his family. "They are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ. But they will never get this from me.”