Christians imprisoned in Iran appeal sentences

Four Christian converts imprisoned in Iran were due to have an appeal hearing on Wednesday 4 October, at the 36th Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. The men are Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie. Their lawyer has appealed the 10-year prison sentences the four received for propagating house churches and promoting ‘Zionist Christianity’.

Four Christian converts imprisoned in Iran were due to have an appeal on Wednesday 4 October, at the 36th Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.

The men are Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie. Their lawyer has appealed the 10-year prison sentences the four received for propagating house churches and promoting ‘Zionist Christianity’. The verdict was dated 24 June but was received on 6 July.

Yousef and Mohammadreza have also been sentenced to 2 years’ exile; Yousef in Nik Shahr and Mohammadreza in Borazjan. Both of these locations are in the south of the country, far away from their families in Rasht.

As they were taking communion at the time of their arrest, on 13 May 2016, Yasser, Saheb and Mohammadreza were in a separate court case charged with consumption of alcohol. On 10 September 2016 they were sentenced to 80 lashes each. Their appeal against this sentence remains outstanding.

Please pray:

• That the appeal against the verdict will be successful, and the four men will be acquitted
• That the sentence of 80 lashes will also be overturned
• That the Revolutionary Court and judges will stop intimidating Christian converts, and will respect the rights of all in Iran to freedom of religion
• That God will reveal Himself to all officials involved in the case, and that they will come to know and love Jesus.

Source: MEC