Newsfeed
Iran Cracks Down on House Churches
Publication Date: 20/7/2022
Source: Persecution - International Christian Concern
In the Muslim-dominated state of Iran, courts have recently targeted four more Christians for house-church activities. One Christian victim is Rahmat Rostamipour. Authorities arrested him in April. During his initial arrest, government agents seized his family’s phones, ID cards, tablets used for school, and other personal belongings. They also interrogated his wife for hours the next day.
Assyrian church destroyed by Turkish shelling in northeastern Syria
Publication Date: 1/6/2022
Source: Asia News
Turkish forces targeted Tel Tamr, an Assyrian Christian village in Hasakah governorate, in north-eastern Syria, an area with a Kurdish majority, destroying a local church (pictured).
In the past, Turkey carried out cross-border operations against the Kurds, at least this is the official motivation, causing death and destruction among Christian communities in Syria and Iraq.
Pope Francis discusses ‘survival of Christians in the Middle East’ with Melkite bishops
Author: Courtney Mares
Publication Date: 20/6/2022
Source: Catholic News Agency
Pope Francis discussed the "survival of Christians in the Middle East" with Catholic bishops from Syria and Lebanon at the Vatican on Monday.
The pope met with Patriarch Youssef Absi of Antioch and other representatives of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church as the Eastern church began its synod of bishops, which is taking place in Rome June 20-25.
Pope: 'Never forget plight of Syria and Christians in Middle East'
Publication Date: 21/6/2022
Source: Abouna
Pope Francis on Monday, June 20, greeted participants in the Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Church of Antioch of the Greek Melkites, and especially thanked Patriarch Youssef Absi of Antioch.
Lebanon relocates Syrian refugees
Publication Date: 11/7/2022
Source: Mission Network News
Lebanon solidifies plans to rehome thousands of Syrian refugees. Within weeks, officials say they’ll start moving 15,000 refugees back to Syria each month.
The good news is some refugees will bring Jesus back with them. Heart for Lebanon co-founder Tom Atema says, “We’ve been privileged to take five different people groups off the unreached people group list.”
Iran using proxy militias to drive Christians out of Middle East: report
Author: Anugrah Kumar
Publication Date: 13/6/2022
Source: The Christian Post
Through its proxy militias, Iran is carrying out an “invisible jihad” against Christians in the Middle East with the aim of creating a Muslim demographic purity by producing conditions that would force Christians out of the region, according to a new report.
The unlikely allies of the Syrian Christians
Author: Aaron Goodrum
Publication Date: 5/7/2022
Source: Early Report
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, which is Shiite, is taking care of Christians in a way that France should, according to its promisesa Syrian soldier told aid workers. Alexander Goodarzy in 2016. In a new Sophia Institute Press translation of his French memoirs, Kidnapped in Iraq: a Christian humanitarian tells his storyHears examines How Christians in Syria Forged Unlikely Alliances Amid Jihadist Ravages in the Post-2011 Period ”Arab Spring.”
5 years in prison—3 Christians sentenced for worshipping Jesus in Iran
Author: Tim Dustin
Publication Date: 8/6/2022
Source: Open Doors
Ahmad Sarparaast, Morteza Mashoodkari and Ayoob Poor-Rezazadeh have been sentenced to five years in prison for “engaging in propaganda and education of deviant beliefs contrary to the holy Sharia” and “connections with foreign leaders.”
A Tehran court sentences seven Christians, including a clergyman, to a total of 32 years in prison
Publication Date: 8/6/2022
Source: Asia News
An Iranian court has sentenced an Iranian-Armenian Christian clergyman to 10 years in prison. Along with him, two women coverts from Islam were also given a six-year sentence for their role in house churches.
Seven Iranian Christians Receive Combined 32 Years in Prison
Publication Date: 16/6/2022
Source: Persecution - International Christian Concern
Last week on June 7, an Iranian-Armenian pastor was sentenced to 10 years in an Iranian prison. After he is released, the court ordered that he be subject to a two-year term of exile in a remote southeast Iranian province and to a two-year ban from international travel and from political and social organizations. Iran’s intelligence services will monitor him after his release as well.
