UPDATE: Pastor Nadarkhani

The case of Iranian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, who received a death sentence for apostasy in September 2010, is due to be reviewed on 8 September.

Open Doors has received the following update from the organisation Middle East Concern:

"Written confirmation has been received that Pastor Yousef will face another court hearing on 8 September. The written summons does not state the purpose of the hearing. Recall that in July pastor Yousef was verbally informed that he would face a new trial on different charges. However, the original apostasy conviction has not been rescinded.

"Elsewhere in Iran, the small number of officially recognised Protestant churches remain under significant pressure because of Government restrictions and surveillance, including a requirement that personal details of members be submitted to the authorities.

"In addition to Pastor Yousef, at least 16 other believers remain detained in Iran because of their Christian faith and activities. These include Pastor Behnam Irani, detained in Karaj, who continues to suffer poor health. He was recently allowed to receive limited treatment in the prison's medical centre but he remains very ill."

Pastor Yousef is a pastor in the Full Gospel 'Church of Iran' in the northern city of Rasht. He has been in prison since October 2009. Yousef and his wife, Fatemeh, have two sons, aged 10 and 8.

Please pray:

1. For God's peace for Pastor Yousef, his wife Fatemeh and their two boys as they await the hearing. Pray for strength to stand firm in their faith
2. That the hearing will go ahead on 8 September and that Pastor Yousef's conviction will be overturned
3. That all Iranian Christians detained for their faith will know the presence and peace of Jesus.