Open Doors Strengthens Suffering Iranian Christians-

feb 25 / 2007

Amid Intensifying Persecution, Open Doors Heightens Support of Church in Iran

With reports of intensifying persecution against Christians streaming out of Iran, Open Doors USA has launched a major initiative to strengthen and encourage Christians who are suffering under this harsh Islamic regime.

?Some of the most courageous and committed Christians in the world today live inside the borders of Iran,? stated Dr. Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors. ?And while the Iranian Church has grown stronger over the years, it is now facing escalating persecution?and we cannot stand by and remain silent when our suffering brothers and sisters need us the most.?

Dr. Moeller went on to say, ?That?s why we have launched one of our most significant campaigns?to deliver thousands of notes of encouragement to suffering Iranian Christians in the coming months. With that campaign we are also mobilizing thousands to pray fervently for the Iranian Church.? 

In at least eight known incidents in the past year, former Muslims who had converted to Christianity were arrested and held in custody for several weeks before being released. In most cases, they were forced to pay large bail amounts and were told their cases remained open for possible criminal prosecution.

It?s become evident that the Iranian secret police have orders to crack down on Christians?and the situation will only continue to deteriorate in Iran under the radical leadership of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In just the past few weeks, Iranian secret police have raided and arrested leaders of an indigenous house church movement. The police arrived unannounced in the early morning hours to search the homes of leaders in Tehran, Karaj, Rasht, and Bandar-i Anzali.

As this issue of Frontline goes to print, eight of these leaders are still imprisoned for their faith. These arrests come on the heels of months of increased persecution, including the martyrdom of Ghorban Tourani. 

Just a few months ago, Brother Ghorban was taken from his home by police?and within a few hours his dead body was dumped in front of his home. He had been stabbed to death. He was a Muslim convert. 

Clearly Iranian authorities are seeking to deter any Muslim today from converting to Christianity. Under Iran?s strict apostasy laws, any Muslim who leaves Islam to embrace another religion faces the death penalty.

In the midst of the intensifying persecution, there is some good news, however. In one case, Hamid Pourmand, who was imprisoned for converting to Christianity (even though his conversion was more than 25 years ago), has finally been released after two years in prison.

But the situation in Iran is becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous. And the leaders of the Iranian Church are urgently pleading for our support. That?s why Open Doors is issuing a call to prayer for Iran?and asking Open Doors supporters to sign a Note of Encouragement that will be sent to Iranian

Christians in the coming months.

In addition, Open Doors is stepping up critical areas of support, which for safety reasons cannot be discussed openly. 

?Iran is one of those countries where we must be extremely careful about sharing the specifics of our work,? explains Dr. Moeller. ?It is, however, one of the most strategic areas of the world in which we work.?

So thank you for your support, which is making such a difference in the lives of persecuted Christians in Iran. Please do pray for them?and pray we will be able to receive the gifts needed to fund our efforts to strengthen these courageous Christians.

Pray, too, that thousands of supporters will sign the notes of encouragement to let our suffering brothers and sisters know they are not forgotten in their moment of real need