IRAN: IMPRISONED PASTOR RELEASED
Open Doors Youth, PO Box 6, Witney, Oxon, UK, OX29 6WG
We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.
Good news from Iran! Anooshavan Avedian – a pastor who has been serving a ten-year prison sentence for leading a house church – has been acquitted and released. He had spent just over a year in prison.
Last year, the UN Human Rights Committee called on Iran to ‘immediately release those imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief’, and ensure they are provided with ‘adequate compensation’. Additionally, our partners at Article18 also called on the Iranian authorities to immediately release Anooshavan, among with other Christian prisoners of conscience, as part of their latest joint submission to the UN in July.
At least 21 other Christians are currently serving sentences related to their faith, including at least ten in Evin Prison. Among them is Hakop Gochumyan, an Armenian citizen who is serving his own ten-year sentence for allegedly engaging in ‘deviant proselytising’.
PRAY NOW...
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Praise God for this good news, and pray that Anooshavan and his family will heal from their ordeal
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For continued strength, protection and encouragement for Christians in Iran affected by persecution.
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For the release of more Christian prisoners, and that all advocacy efforts will bring yet more breakthrough
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