In Chains: Christian Persecution - 2019, Issue 1

Refusing to Recant Their Faith, Two
Iranian Christians Face Years in Prison
In September 2018, Mr. Fadaie and Ms.
Bakhteri were sentenced to 18 and 12
months in prison. Mr. Faudaue also received
2 years of exile in a remote area near
Afghanistan. This is on top of his 10 year
sentence that he is serving in Evin Prison.
On January 15th, these two Christians
refused to renounce Jesus during their court
appearance on their appeal.
Read the full story here.
Five Converts Arrested (Middle East Concern)
Iranian Christians request prayer following
the arrests of Yive female converts from
Islam to Christianity. These include Ruhsari
Kamberi, a 65-year old who was arrested
and detained in Karaj, and forced to endure
ten days of intensive interrogation.
Early one morning, shortly before Christmas
2018, Ruhsari Kamberi was arrested at her
home by three members of Iranian
intelligence. They searched her residence,
conYiscating mobile phones, Bibles and
other Christian materials, then took her to
the intelligence ofYices for questioning.
Fewer details are available concerning four
other female Christian converts, from
different church groups, who were arrested
at the same time.
Ruhsari was interrogated from morning
until evening for ten consecutive days, then
released after paying 30 million Toman bail.
Two weeks ago she was brought before the
prosecutor to answer charges of “acting
against national security” and forced to go to
a religious leader to be “instructed” and
offered the opportunity to return to Islam.
Friends of Ruhsari have been shocked by
this disrespectful treatment towards an
disrespectful treatment towards an elderly
woman and report that she has been very
upset by her experience. They request prayer
that:
• God will help all Christians who are
arrested and interrogated in Iran to stand
Yirm in the faith
• God will bring his peace, comfort, and
encouragement to Ruhsari and the other
women arrested at the same time.
• God will also bring his comfort to
Ruhsari’s husband and children and the
relatives of the other women
• Those people responsible for the
mistreatment of the women and the
violations of their rights will repent of
their actions.
Two Converts Arrested (Middle East Concern)
Iranian Christians request prayer for two
converts who were recently arrested and
detained.
Human Rights group Article 18 reports that
on 23 January, Sina Moloudian (26), was
arrested in Esfahan and then on 25 January
Ismaeil Maghrebinejad (64) was arrested in
Shiraz.
Iranian intelligence agents arrived at the
house of Sina Moloudian without producing
an arrest warrant, broke down the door and
arrested Sina in front of his parents. The
agents conYiscated his computer, phone, Bible
and other Christian materials, as well as a
cross. Witnesses saw him being dragged out
of his house with bruising around his eyes.
Later, he was able to call his family to say that
he was going to be taken to court to face
charges and that he was being held in
Dastgerd Prison, although the Iranian
authorities later denied this.
Ismaeil Maghrebinejad (64), who converted
in the 1980’s and has experienced
considerable difYiculties on account of his
faith, reportedly including an attempt on his