[Today's Prayer] Iran executes at least 1,500 people this year... three times more than three years ago

Human rights groups have reported that the number of executions in Iran this year has reached at least 1,500, a threefold increase from three years ago.

The BBC reported on the 28th (local time) citing the Norwegian-based human rights monitoring group "Iran Human Rights" that at least 1,500 executions had been confirmed by early this month, and more executions have taken place since then.

(Omitted)

According to Amnesty International, Iran is the second-most prolific executioner in the world after China.

It is speculated that the surge in executions in Iran was triggered by the large-scale anti-government protests in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for not wearing a hijab properly and later died in police custody.

It is believed that the Iranian government, feeling threatened by the protests, has significantly increased the number of executions to instill fear in the public and prevent internal opposition.

Human rights activists point out that the execution rate in Iran rises when the regime feels threatened, and that the number of executions surged again after the defeat of Iranian forces in the Iran-Israel war in June 2022.

On the other hand, the Iranian government defends the practice of executions, saying they are limited to the "most serious crimes".

Source: News 1

"And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling of God is with men, and he will dwell with them. They shall be his people, and God himself will be with them and will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things have passed away.' " (Revelation 21:2-4)

Father God, it is distressing to hear that the number of executions in Iran this year has reached at least 1,500, a threefold increase from three years ago, and that the Iranian government, feeling threatened by the protests over the hijab issue, is increasing the number of executions to prevent internal opposition and instill fear in the Iranian people.

Lord, may You punish the Iranian government that rules with Islamic Sharia law and instead leads the Iranian people to death. May You repent the sin of falsely accusing many Iranian Christians of espionage after their recent defeat against Israel, and may You break the power of death and make the Iranian leaders realize that only Jesus, the true Savior of the Iranian people, can bring true peace to their land.

May the Church in Iran, which has pledged to stand with the people of Iran forever despite the oppression and fear of death, awaken and serve the Iranian souls until the end.

May the Iranian souls look forward to the new Jerusalem that will come to this earth and dress themselves as the holy bride of Jesus, the true Savior of the Iranian people.

May the Church in Iran rise as a holy army that overcomes death and fulfill the mission of spreading the gospel of heaven to the ends of the earth. May the name of Jesus Christ, who brings salvation to all nations, be spread everywhere the Iranian people go.