Iran: IMF Pressured to Suspend Accounts
08 May 2012A New York-based advocacy group that has pressured companies and organizations to halt business with Iran because of its disputed nuclear program is urging the International Monetary Fund to close its account at Iran’s central bank and suspend Iran as a member. Mark Wallace, president of United Against Nuclear Iran, a group whose founders include current and former administration officials, has sent a letter to IMF managing director Christine Lagarde criticizing the IMF’s relationship with Iran. Iran’s central bank, also known as Bank Markazi, has been sanctioned by the U.S. and the European Union. Wallace’s group is attempting to isolate Iran and pressure it to give up its uranium enrichment activities and to cooperate more fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The IMF’s chief spokesman, William Murray, said the Fund isn’t violating any laws and is following its normal rules toward member nations. The U.S. Treasury and EU spokesmen declined to comment on the call for Iran to be suspended from the IMF.
Pray: for God to move the heart of the Iranian leadership – enabling them to engage with the rest of the world. (2 Ch.36:22)
The Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) says that that on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at 4:30 pm, several plain clothes security officers, introducing themselves as ‘agents of the Ministry of Information,’ invaded the home of a local house-church pastor in the city of Karaj, which is situated about 13 miles west of the capital of Tehran, and after threatening those who were present there, assaulted and arrested the pastor, named Behnam Irani, and transported him to an undisclosed location. ‘Sources in and around the city of Karaj report than approximately 10 young men had gathered to fellowship and practice their newly found faith by studying the Bible, void of any political or current issues, when this attack occurred,’ said a FCNN spokesperson. ‘Each attendee was informed that they had attended an illegal meeting and in the coming days they would be called and summoned for further questioning by the authorities.’
Pray: for the believers in Iran that the Lord would protect them and uphold those who are being imprisoned for their faith. (Ps.32:6-7)
Iran's pre-Islamic religious groups – Zoroastrians, Christians, and Jews – are recognized as ‘protected’ religious minorities in the constitution. But according to the U.S. State Department's latest report, ‘government respect for religious freedom in the country has continued to deteriorate.’ An estimated 300,000 people in Iran are Christians. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran made an appeal in support of Youcef Nadarkhani who was charged with apostasy and his lawyer has filed an objection to the sentence with the high court. ‘To execute someone based on the religion they choose to practice or not practice is the ultimate form of religious discrimination and disregard for the freedom of conscience and belief,’ said Aaron Rhodes a spokesperson for the Campaign. Rhodes argued ‘there are no articles in Iran's Islamic Penal Code that refer to apostasy as a crime.’ Pray: for Iran to stay within its own legal framework and for Youcef to be released immediately. (Pr.3:13) More: http://au.christiantoday.com/article/iran-high-court-urged-to-reverse-death-sentence-for-christian/9742.htm
Iran: Hidden evangelism
22 Jun 2012The following is from a testimony of an Iranian Christian, ‘My mother was born blind and educated at an Anglican school for the visually-impaired. Despite her disability she was a great help to my father and me very godly standards. When I was 13 my father was executed in Mashad prison on the orders of a Muslim ombudsman who was investigating my father’s activities. He was buried in an area where we were not allowed to put a headstone. After such a tragedy I could have become full of self-pity but my father’s martyrdom strengthened my faith. I knew he had died as a soldier in God’s army. After finishing secondary school I studied psychology, then God called me into full-time Christian ministry. So I went to Bible college in England. I’m determined to follow in my father’s footsteps and minister to my fellow Iranians.
Pray: for Rashin and others like her who bravely follow God’s call on their lives and step into Christian ministry in Iran. May they be encouraged refreshed and protected continually. (Ps.23:4)
More: http://www.releaseinternational.org/media/Release_magazine/2012/R67.pdf
On 21st May Robert Asserian, pastor of Assemblies of God (AoG) church in Tehran, was arrested while leading a prayer meeting and the church has now been closed by government officials. ‘These incidents appear to be an attempt to stop worship services from being conducted in Farsi, the language of the majority of Iranians,’ said the general superintendent of the AoG in the United States. Before his arrest authorities raided Pastor Asserian’s home and confiscated his computer and books. His arrest is part of an intensifying campaign against the AoG and other recognized churches. Iranian Christians request our continued prayer that: a. Pastor Robert will know the presence and peace of Jesus, and that he will be released soon. b. Church leaders will know the Spirit's wisdom, especially concerning public acts of worship. c. The pressure against churches will relent and services in Farsi will be permitted.
Pray: for all detained because of their Christian faith and activities. May they know the closeness of Jesus daily. For many more officials involved to love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him. (Mic.6:8)
Iran: Four prayer needs
02 Mar 2011
1) Iranian naval vessels sailed the Suez Canal on Tuesday en route to Syria, the first time in three decades that Tehran has been allowed to send military ships through this strategic waterway. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu viewed the move 'with gravity.' The ships paid about $300,000 in fees for the passage, according to a Maritime agent. See: 2) After two days of violent street protests in one week, Iran's opposition Green Movement said it was pondering its next move and considering a continuation of street protests, according to opposition websites. Websites have since been shut down. 3) Opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi have been under house arrest for over a week with little communication with the outside world. See: 4) Many Christians imprisoned for their faith need our prayers for Gods provision, and house churches in Iran need much wisdom at this time. See: Pray: for God’s power and authority to overrule all of Tehran's widening strategic horizons. (Pr.10:29-30) More: http://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/node?sid=21191
Iran: Fears for condemned pastor’s welfare
28 Nov 2011Compass Direct News reports that the mistreatment of Youcef Nadarkhani, amounts to physical and psychological torture, a source close to the pastor's family said. An Iranian church member said that communication with Nadarkhani is limited, but sources close to the imprisoned Christian indicate he has undergone physical and psychological torture. ‘Certainly he was hit, his telephone conversations are heard by authorities’ the source said, adding he has been in extreme situations spending time in a solitary cell unable to talk to others for long times and also is told he will be killed. Visitors to Youcef have seen evidence of torture, adding ‘long periods of solitary confinement can cause mental trauma, although we have not seen any evidence in Youcef of being in a bad mental state.’
Pray: for God’s Holy Spirit to continue to protect Youcef’s mind. Pray also for his speedy release despite not recanting his faith. (Heb.10:35)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/fears.for.welfare.of.iranian.pastor.facing.execution/28898.htm
Iran: Farsi language banned from Church
09 Jan 2014Farsi is the language spoken by most Iranians. Iran's churches are under pressure from the government to stop holding services in the Farsi language. According to Mohabat News, St. Peter Church in Tehran was forced by the Revolutionary Guard to announce that Farsi-speaking Christians are no longer allowed to attend and a church custodian of St Peter Church had to refuse admittance to Farsi-speaking members.Some had worshipped there for 20+ years. Sunday school teachers, elders, and ministers could not enter the building for any reason. The pastor announced that all services will now be held in another language. Iran's Ministry of Intelligence requested the church turn over all personnel information, an act intended to intimidate members from attending. Only a few Armenian and Assyrian families now attend St. Peter church. Now that all Farsi-speaking members are banned the church will probably close completely.