IRAN: PLEASE KEEP PRAYING AS DEATH TOLL FROM PROTESTS RISES

You may have heard about the protests in Iran earlier this month, sparked by economic and livelihood pressures – but the unrest is a reflection of a far deeper crisis. 

What we are witnessing in Iran today is a cry for dignity, justice and life itself,” shares an Open Doors source from the region. “It is a cry rising from streets soaked in fear and courage alike. Street protests expanded across the entire nation, and security forces responded with mass arrests and lethal force, in an attempt to control the masses.”

Over the last few weeks, the Iranian regime blocked the internet in an attempt to disrupt the protest and stop information about their handling of the crises being covered around the world. Since, it’s been hard to get a handle on what has been happening, but we still need to pray.

Thousands confirmed to have been killed

In the rare moments of internet connection between Iran and the outside world, news of the steeply increasing death toll has reached global media. The exact number of deaths is difficult to know, but the HRANA reports confirmed the deaths of 4,902 with 9,387 deaths under investigation. The true number of people killed likely goes even beyond this figure.  

Amongst them will be members of our church family, those we know of and others whose names have not yet been reported. One Christian convert, Mohsen Rashidi, was a husband and father of three girls. When trying to recover the body of a friend killed during a demonstration, Mohsen was shot from behind. The authorities have forbidden his family from holding a funeral for him. He was numbered among the ten Christians who have been confirmed dead because of their participation in protests. The church in Iran is, of course, praying for violence to end against believers and non-believers alike. 

Reports have shown that, during the unrest, several Christian converts have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in house churches. Included is a lawyer who has defended Christians in court historically. She was arrested in Tehran, but details remain obscured due to the ongoing internet blackout. 

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING

Please keep praying for Iran and for our church family inside the country. Pray now:

• For wisdom and guidance for World leaders and the UN to know how to respond to the crisis 
• That God would bring deep comfort to the family of Mohsen, and all those mourning loved ones. Ask that the Prince of Peace would guard their grieving hearts 
• For Christians arrested or in prison to know that they are not alone 
• That God’s light would shine through the church in Iran, bringing true freedom and hope to all those suffering 
• That the Lord would bring about lasting change and enable every Iranian citizen to enjoy freedom of religious belief.