[Today’s Prayer] Iranian Christian Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Home Church Activities Released After 5 Years

An Iranian Christian sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a house church has been released after serving five years.

According to the Christian Post (CP) in the United States, human rights group Church in Chains reported that “Christian convert Mehdi Akbari was released from Evin Prison on September 29 (local time) after the Tehran Appeals Court reduced his sentence to four years and five months.”

Mehdi was arrested in January 2019 when intelligence agents raided the homes of him and his fellow Christian converts in Tehran. Those arrested were Fatemeh Sharifi, Simin Soheilinia and Mehdi Rokhparvar.

The four were transferred to Evin Prison, held in solitary confinement and interrogated for 30 days. They were each released on bail on March 18, 2019, after paying a bail of 800 million Tomans (about 21.6 million won).

On June 16, 2020, they were tried by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on charges of “forming an illegal evangelical Christian group and committing acts against national security.” They were also accused of interacting with missionary groups in countries such as Russia, Georgia, Turkey, and Armenia.

The trial was presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, known for his harsh treatment of prisoners of conscience, who increased bail to 7 billion Tomans (about 189 million US dollars).

In October 2020, Mehdi, Fatemeh and Simin were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Mehdi Hoqparbar was sentenced to 5 years. The two women were later released on bail, but the man was transferred to Evin Prison, where he was notified of his sentence on 17 October 2020.

According to Church in Chains, Mehdi reportedly told the crowd while incarcerated, “If someone were to ask me if I had done anything against national security, I wouldn’t know what to say. All I know is, ‘I am a Christian and always will be,’ and ‘I will preach the light of God and the kingdom of God to everyone.’”

According to The Mirror, Mehdi endured harsh conditions, including torture and long-term solitary confinement. He described his experiences, including the physical and psychological hardships.

Mehdi Rokparbar, who was imprisoned with him, was released in February 2023 as part of a mass amnesty commemorating the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Mehdi Rokparbar welcomed the release of Mehdi Akbari. Mehdi’s release was preceded by the release of another Iranian Christian, Pastor Anushaban Abedian, who was acquitted on September 24 by the same appeals court.

“Iran’s Christian community continues to face persecution, and these prosecutions are often framed as threats to national security,” CP said.

Iran's Muslim population is approximately 98.5%, most of whom are Shiites.

Source: News

if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. (Colossians 1:23-24)

Amen. lord, we hear that an Iranian believer sentenced to five years in prison for his house church activities, has been released after five years. Keep the churches in Iran abiding in faith in Jesus Christ alone and standing firmly on the ground, unshaken in the hope of the gospel!

Have compassion on the persecuted Churches of Iran and give them more of the overcoming faith that will enable it to overcome persecution and tribulation!

Let us not abandon our faith, boldly proclaiming that we will die if we die, but also have compassion on us, so that by your grace we may triumph with the Gospel in every situation!

May the shadow of God's wings protect the members of the Iranian Church who are in danger of being arrested at any time and in any way while worshipping! Let all laws and systems that persecute the Iranian Church fall, and let all that persecute the saints fall, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

May the Iranian Church not be diminished by persecution and tribulation, but may it become stronger and more courageous, and may You remember the Iranian Church in the midst of persecution, and may You visit and comfort them with Your Holy Spirit right now!

Let the disciples of Jesus who follow the cross of Jesus without denying Him in all circumstances, arise in great numbers among the Iranian Church in the churches of Iran without denying You in all circumstances!

Open the gates of heaven when we worship and pray, and let Jesus be enthroned and reign as King in the Iranian church every time!

Let the Church of Iran advance with the Gospel of Jesus to the ends of the earth!