Iran

Key Facts:
Leader: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Population: 69 million (0.3% Christian)
Majority Religion: Islam
Type of Government: Theocratic republic

President Ahmadinejad's regime and the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons attract global attention.

Shariah law is implemented, and although Christians belong to a recognised religious minority guaranteed religious freedom, they have reported imprisonment, harassment and discrimination because of their faith.

Some Muslim converts to Christianity have been arrested and held in custody for several weeks, then forced to pay large sums in bail.

Prayer

• Praise God for Hamid Pourmand's release in July 2006, after he had served 22 months in jail, falsely accused of hiding his faith
• Pray for Christian groups targeted last year for spreading their faith among Shiite Muslims
• Pray for Muslim-background believers who face the death penalty for becoming Christians.