Reverend Shah Ahmadi with Iran Alive Ministries says discipleship for new believers in Iran includes this message: “If you want to follow Christ, you should be ready to lose everything.” 

But one of Iran Alive’s contacts was honest with God after she and her husband first became Christians.

She would cry in bed at night. “I love you, Jesus. I love what you did. I accept you. But it’s very hard for me practical[ly] to go to [the] Iranian regime and prison, whatever [could happen]. So don’t test me, don’t put me in that kind of place.”

(Representative stock photo from Iran courtesy of Mashid Saberpour via Unsplash)

Then what she feared came true. Her husband was arrested and so was she. Then came the moment she stood before a judge. 

“Are you a Christian?” he asked her. 

It was her chance to say no and claim she had been deceived. She was ready to do just that… but suddenly she found she was mute! 

In her heart she recognized God giving her a choice to deny or not deny Him. She realized she would rather speak and go to prison than remain mute and perhaps go free. 

“During that time, I receive[d] a special grace and boldness I never had — scared like a baby! Suddenly my lips start opening, and I start testifying: ‘Yes, I am a Christian. I used to be afraid of sharing, and now God gave me grace to share with you.”

Representative stock photo from Tehran, Iran (Photo courtesy of Soroush via Unsplash)

God gave her a word of knowledge about the judge: “You [are] going through marriage problem,” she told him. “If you want to save your life, you need to give your life to Jesus Christ.”

Later, the judge visited her one-on-one in a prison cell, asking how she knew what he was going through. The presence of God came to her again. She said it was God-given knowledge and only Jesus could save the judge’s marriage. 

“I’m going to help you and your husband get out of the prison,” the judge told her, “and you help me and my wife to be disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Ahmadi says these two couples are now disciples of Christ inside Iran. 

“This is one of the most brave [stories], because I see their weakness, and I see a power of God. I see a grace of God in our most vulnerable area, [when] we are unable to do anything,” Ahmadi says. 

Please take a moment and pray for strength for Iranian Christians under extraordinary pressure today. During 2024, nearly 100 Iranians Christians were sentenced to a combined 263 years in prison, a massive uptick compared to 2023 (source: Article18).

Connect with Iran Alive Ministries for more stories and opportunities to stand with the Iranian church. 

Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Aliata Karbaschi via Unsplash.

Floyd Brobbel with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada explains, “It was quite unethical that the way they were trying to trap people into some sort of blasphemy against Islam or against Muhammad or against the Quran, and then making sure that those charges would go through.”

Days before stepping down, Aziz had blocked actions that exposed flaws in how blasphemy cases were being handled.

Christians in the legal crosshairs

Christians in Pakistan. (Photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA)

This case is just one example of how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are often misused to target minority Christians. Recently, the Lahore High Court pushed for an investigation into the growing number of blasphemy cases, raising concerns that organized groups might be behind them.

“We’ve seen a lot of Christians targeted, and other religious minorities in Pakistan would be targeted,” says Brobbel. “Certainly, I think those who are trying to expose the inner workings of this group could face a number of security challenges and issues. When other groups and lawyers or high profile government officials have tried to speak up on behalf of religious minorities and defend them, they have been assassinated in the past.”

With the resignation of Justice Aziz and growing pressure for investigations, there’s hope that Pakistan will take steps to protect minorities from these abuses. But without real legal reforms, many Christians still face a dangerous reality.

“The blasphemy laws have been an issue, not only in Pakistan but in other Muslim countries. But in particular, in Pakistan, these blasphemy laws were used to incite hatred and incite unjust attacks on Christians and arrests of Christians,” says Brobbel.

“On the ground level, often imams in their mosque can incite their people through saying that a particular Christian was caught blaspheming…and they can incite a mob to attack Christians. We’ve seen this happen.”

The start of reform?

With blasphemy entrapment and false accusations now being called out in Pakistan, it’s a first step towards reform.

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs USA)

Yet, Brobbel points out, “The concern remains that while we can see some changes hopefully happening at a higher level, will it filter down to the grassroots level? Will those things be dealt with? That remains to be seen.

“We need to encourage that if authorities are trying to weed out and dismantle this blasphemy ring that’s happening, it also needs to go a step further and ensure that these blasphemy laws (or anti-blasphemy laws) will be dealt with completely…where people truly can be free from this type of thing. So we need to pray that that will continue to happen.”

Brobbel also urges, “We need to pray that the truth would continue to come forward, that people would be courageous in exposing what is happening with this group, and hopefully see that this group would be dismantled.”

Header photo: Lahore, Pakistan (Photo courtesy of Syed Bilal Javaid via Unpslash)

It’s an update many people were praying over and waiting for!

Koher is a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship (known in Mozambique as Ambassador Aviation) and was wrongfully detained in November with two South African men while preparing to transport orphanage supplies. He is under investigation for “supporting terrorism.”

The case isn’t closed yet, but Koher was let out of prison in early March.

MAF’s CEO David Holsten says, “It was a provisional release…. He doesn’t have possession of his passport, he’s not allowed to leave the country, and the investigation process is still proceeding. So he’s out, but it’s not completely resolved.”

Ryan Koher (Photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.)

Koher is back on MAF’s Mozambique base with his wife and two young sons while they wait for a final decision on his case.

Details have been slow coming out because, as Holsten explains, “We have strategically and intentionally not said a lot about it because we didn’t want to do anything that could compromise his being released.”

MAF’s legal team is engaged with Mozambique’s Ministry of Justice and hopes the investigation will conclude within a month or two.

Holsten asks, “We want to certainly pray for the interaction that we’re having with the government to secure his full release [and] that he’d be cleared of any charges.”

Please keep praying for Koher’s full acquittal.

Holsten was able to connect with Koher on the phone after he was released. Holsten shares, “For the many people that had upheld him in their prayers — which would be a number of the listeners of this program — he’s aware of the Body of Christ really seeking to support he and his family. So he was just thankful…. I was very impressed and humbled by that, to see how he responded to it. It was not a sense of anger or questioning, though those sorts of emotions would be very understandable. He was really very gracious and full of gratitude.”

If and when Koher’s case is dropped and he is cleared to travel, MAF plans to bring Koher and his family back to the US for a time of furlough.

Ryan was in the Ambassador Aviation hangar, which is near the main airport terminal, when his family arrived for a private welcome. The photo was taken in the hangar shortly afterwards. (Caption, photo courtesy of MAF)

“In the meantime,” Holsten says, “he has no work responsibilities that he needs to engage in. It’s really just spending time together as a family. He’s not flying or going to the hangar and doing maintenance or anything like that. We just want to give them ample space to be together as a family.”

If you would like to help MAF with the unexpected legal fees and expenses related to Koher’s case, you can contact MAF here.

Header photo taken in September at Nairuko, Mozambique. Featuring Ryan Koher, Annabel Koher, and their two boys. (Photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.)

Ryan is a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), known in Mozambique as Ambassador Aviation. His wife, Annabel Koher, heard from him after bail was denied.

Annabel says, “When I talked to Ryan just this past week, we had about a 20-minute phone call and he said receiving that news was hard on him for a few days. But he was able to come out of that hard place and he has the peace of God now.”

Ryan and Annabel Koher (Photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship, used with permission from the Koher family.)

The investigation by the Mozambican prosecutor is continuing and hopefully will wrap up at the end of the month. 

“There is the chance for the prosecutor to request an extension and we know that the dates aren’t always set in stone. Sometimes there’s some fluidity there,” Annabel says. “So we’re hopeful that at the beginning of March, we’ll have more answers as to whether there’s a charge or if he’ll be dismissed.

“Of course, we’re praying that this will be the end of the case and that he’ll be home with us soon.”

Please also pray for the Gospel’s spread as the Lord is using Ryan’s case to call other Christians to the mission field.

“It’s surprising because you think something like this would make people second-guess going and spreading the Gospel overseas because there are these dangers. But I hear the opposite about how it’s pushing people to want to go and to further the Gospel in other places,” Annabel says.

“I spoke with a young man at our church just a couple of weeks ago, and he was telling me how he hopes that he will be able to have that kind of faith. To see how God has sustained Ryan in this time gives him assurance of going to the hard places because it’s the same God. So he knows that God will be there with him as well if he was ever in a situation like that.”

An official from the U.S. Embassy visited Ryan earlier last week. He was able to deliver a mattress cover and other items that Ambassador Aviation had purchased for him. The official confirmed with the country director that Ryan is able to spend an hour outside each day. They also delivered letters for Ryan that he will eventually receive once they have been reviewed.

Annabel shares, “[They are] also helping with trying to arrange medical needs and stuff. He’s still struggling with itching and he has not been able to get relief from anything that the prison clinic has been able to provide for him. So Ambassador Aviation and the U.S. Embassy are working to find a dermatologist and get the appropriate paperwork to have Ryan leave the facility to be able to visit the dermatologist and then go back.”

Pray for relief from Ryan’s health concerns. Pray also for the two Christians from South Africa who were arrested at the same time and remain in jail with him.

Ryan Koher (Photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.)

This time of separation has been especially difficult for their two young boys. Annabel says, “They’ve been more vocal — even my two-year-old has been more vocal about daddy being stuck. We are focusing on the hopefulness of daddy coming home at some point, and thinking about how we want to welcome him home and focusing on those things. But I’m sure that in their hearts, they still don’t understand everything fully.

“Pray that God can comfort their hearts. It seems like bedtime is usually the hardest time for them and when the most questions arise. So be praying that bedtimes will go smoothly, and they’ll be able to get peace and rest so that I can get some peace and rest as well.”

If you desire to send words of encouragement to Annabel, they can be emailed at prayforpilotryan@maf.org.

Header photo of Ryan Koher, courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.

Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says the most significant sentence came against an ethnically Armenian pastor. “Anooshavan Avedian was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He just turned 60, so that would put him in prison until he is 70.”

Exile

But he isn’t done after 10 years, Nettleton says. “They added on to the sentence two more years of really what I would call internal exile. Basically, he cannot live in the city of Tehran, where he lives. He’s being sent to a very isolated, rural part of the country, far away from his family and far away from his home.”

Why did the judge add two years of exile? Nettleton says this isn’t the first time a similar sentence has been handed down. “Ibrahim Firouzi, I believe, served six years in prison. And then they said, ‘Okay, now two more years, in this rural area along the Pakistani border.’ They watched his house where he was living and they limited his internet access.”

Nettleton says the Iranian government likely wants to keep these Christians quiet beyond their prison sentences.

Questions

The other 6 Christians had all converted from Islam. But Iran views Armenians as Christians already. Nettleton says, “So it’s not a crime for an Armenian person to be a follower of Christ. In fact, it’s kind of expected that they would be. This is an Armenian pastor who was sentenced for, ‘propaganda contrary to and disturbing to the holy religion of Islam.’ That raises questions.”

Nettleton says the judge who handed down the ruling has a reputation for harshness towards Christians.

Ask God to encourage and strengthen these believers. As they appeal the rulings, pray their sentences will get reversed.

(Header photo by Masih Shahbazi: https://www.pexels.com/photo/the-gate-of-all-nations-palace-in-persepolis-iran-7760091/)

Pakistan (MNN) — Today, the Pakistan Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Asia Bibi’s appeal against her death penalty sentence for blasphemy. A 51-year-old wife and mother, Bibi’s case has been ongoing and earned international attention over the past seven years.

A 51-year-old wife and mother, Bibi’s case has been ongoing and earned international attention over the past seven years. (Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs Canada)

Forgotten Missionaries International’s Bruce Allen recaps Bibi’s situation for us:

“Her incident took place in 2009, and it was a result of her trying to share water with colleagues and a discussion that ensued after that because her Muslim coworkers were offended by the fact that she would share water from a vessel she had drunk from, and that was taboo for them [because she is a Christian].

“Her initial imprisonment [was] just shortly thereafter in 2009, and she was sentenced to death in 2010. That sentence obviously has not been served in terms of being implemented, but she has just languished in a series of prisons over the course of time. Sometimes she has been transferred because of death threats while she’s in prison. So there have been security factors. There have been health issues for her as well.

“In summer 2015, there was a hearing at the Supreme Court in Pakistan. They suspended implementing that death sentence. It still stands that she is sentenced to death, but they were permitting an appeal.”

That appeal court date for Bibi is today, Allen explains. “Her lawyer is going to ask the Supreme Court to reconsider deficiencies that are in the case, in my mind some glaring deficiencies, because this appeal was allowed. So he’s going to be citing poor investigation and manipulation of evidence by the local police.”

One big question with this appeal: is it truly a glimmer of hope for Bibi and her family?

“There is a chance she could be released,” says Allen. “Many Christians around the world are continuing to pray for her, for her release, for her freedom, for her family to be reunited. And yet, I’d have to say even if she is released, there is still the sentence of death hanging over her, not in the legal judicial sense, but just from mob violence because the Muslims do want her dead.”

(Image courtesy of Forgotten Missionaries International)

Justice in Pakistan is very hard to come by, even for the average citizen. But it is especially true for Pakistani Christians and other religious minorities.

Allen shares, “One of the interesting things, though, that even our national director in Pakistan reminds me of is the court decision, even though it will be heard by a jury, the jury is selected, hand-picked, by the government. So the government is basically ensuring any verdict the court is going to surrender will be in party line, so they deal with very little implications or repercussions. It will be interesting to see what the court actually decides in the next few days regarding Asia Bibi.”

Bibi’s case has snagged the attention of the international community. High profile organizations and individuals such as Pope Francis and The European Parliament have called for Bibi’s pardon. The outcome of her case will be a reflection on humanitarian rights in Pakistan.

There have been positive hints or strides towards justice in Pakistan. Last week, a joint session of Parliament in Pakistan unanimously approved anti-rape and anti-honor killing legislation. Yet, only time will tell if the legislation truly invokes change.

Meanwhile, Bibi awaits the jury’s decision on her appeal. And she isn’t the only one stuck in Pakistan’s judicial limbo, remarks Allen.

“There are 500 people at least, Christians, who are in prison on these blasphemy charges. Most of them are all trumped-up because people just use them to say, ‘I have a bone to pick with someone, so I’m going to accuse them of blasphemy,’ and then that person’s life is in upheaval. They’ll just languish in prison. And even though a life sentence is only supposed to be 14 years, many of those blasphemy cases, they’ve been languishing in prison for more than 30 years.”

Please pray today for Asia Bibi, that she would be released from prison and protected from violence. Pray that her faith and courage would remain strong, no matter what happens, and that others would see her witness and come to know Jesus Christ.

Click here to learn more about Forgotten Missionaries International.

Yat Michael had taken his child to Khartoum for medical treatment when he was arrested on Dec. 14, 2014 after preaching at a local church during his stay in Sudan. Peter Yen was arrested in January 2015 when he went to enquire about Michael’s whereabouts. The two men were then reported as missing until Sudanese authorities revealed that they were being held in prison for “crimes against the state.”

(Photo courtesy Open Doors Ministries)

The DPA German news agency reports the judge found Yat Michael guilty of “breach of the peace” (Article 69) and Peter Yen (also known as David Reith) guilty of “managing a criminal or terrorist organization” (Article 65). But he ordered both released, as they had already served the sentences for these offenses by their 8-month term in prison.

Dr. David Curry, President/CEO of Open Doors USA, commented on the good news of the pastors’ release: “I am grateful and encouraged to hear news about the release of Pastor Michael and Pastor Yen. The worldwide prayers of many Christians have been answered.

“Our hope is that freedom of religious expression will become a part of Sudanese policy so that Christians and others may practice their faith in peace. Unfortunately, Christians in Sudan are currently not free to express their faith.”

Experts said there were fears that they would have been convicted of the more serious charges; it was felt the judge was under pressure to balance local expectations on him to uphold the principles of the Sharia-governed state, with adherence to international human rights standards.

The families told Radio Tamazuj, an online independent news service broadcast in Sudan and South Sudan, that they were “delighted.”

The last time the men were in court was July 23 when their legal team submitted their written closing arguments.

(Photo courtesy Open Doors Ministries)

Observers from a number of foreign embassies were present that day. An official from the Sudanese Ministry of Justice told one of the pastors’ lawyers that the extent of outside interest had led the government to take a very close interest in the case.

Thabith Al Zubir, one of the lawyers defending the pastors, had asked the judge to drop the case because the defense had refuted all the accusations against the two men, and because there was no clear evidence against them.

The defense lawyers had also argued that their clients were arrested illegally by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).

They said Pastor Yat Michael did not violate Sudan’s law when he preached in Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church on Dec. 14 because he was just carrying out his duty as a pastor.

“To urge believers to be zealous for their church is not an insult against God,” one lawyer said, referring to NISS arresting Yat Michael after his sermon in the church in the Bahri area, just north of the Sudanese capital.

“Justice requires that you don’t judge simply because you suspect, without any concrete evidence,” the lawyer said. In addition, the lawyers raised concern over the fact that Yat Michael and Peter Yen were being tried illegally for insulting religion.

Sudan is ranked #6 on the Open Doors 2015 World Watch List (www.worldwatchlist.us) of the 50 worst persecutors of Christians. Islam is well-rooted in the Sudanese society. The overwhelming majority of the population in Sudan is Sunni Muslim, and Sharia law is the foundation of Sudan’s legal system. The regime is authoritarian and wants to control all aspects of the lives of its citizens. Blasphemy laws are used country-wide to persecute and prosecute Christians. Apostasy is criminalized, punishable by the death penalty. The arrest, incarceration and extended trial of pastors Michael and Yen illustrate the pressure Christians face in this region.

Article courtesy Open Doors Ministries. Click here link for the original article.

"Authorities arrested Said Musa, 45, on May 31, 2010, days after the local Noorin TV station broadcast images of Afghan Christians being baptized and worshiping," said the CDN story.

"Though there were other arrests in May and June during the ensuing man-hunt against Christians, Musa is the only known Christian facing a court case."

The story went on to say that turning from Islam is "a capital offense under strict Islamic laws still in place in Afghanistan," which was wrested from the Taliban regime's hard-line Islamist control in 2001.

"In June, authorities forced Musa to renounce Christianity publicly on television but have continued to hold him in prison without revealing accusations against him," CDN added. "In prison, Musa has openly said he is a follower of Jesus. In a hand-delivered letter penned last month to the church worldwide, U.S. President Barack Obama, and the heads of NATO's International Security Assistance Forces, Musa wrote that he was 'physically and verbally abused' by his captors and other prisoners at Ouliat Prison in Kabul."

In his letter, Musa alluded to the lack of justice he faced in prison, saying that the prosecutor had given the judge a false report about him and "demanded a bribe" from the Christian. Local Christians and religious freedom monitors have expressed concern that Musa may be made an example.

"This is kind of a test case to see which law prevails in the country: Sharia [Islamic law] or international agreements," said a Christian religious freedom advocate on condition of anonymity.

Shi Weihan is accused of printing and distributing Christian books and Bibles without government permission.

Shi has been held in prison for over a year and hopefully will find out if he will remain there after today. Although on two separate occasions a judge has declared there to be insufficient evidence against Shi, the police continue to try to convict him.

This may be partly because Shi has confessed to distributing the books and Bibles. However, he says that he has not been selling them but giving them away. His explanation for such conduct is that whenever he gives the materials away, people's lives are impacted positively, they become better citizens, and they are less likely to participate in cultish activity. Shi's claim is that he is doing something good and honorable for the sake of China.

As Shi has waited in prison since March 19, 2008, he has been sorely missed by his wife and kids. His wife continues to help run a house church and care for their two daughters alone.

On a more positive note, it would seem that a Joseph parallel is taking place. Much like Joseph of the Book of Genesis, Shi has attracted the attention of the prison guards and his fellow inmates. He has had a positive influence on all of them and clearly stands firm in his faith despite the extended tribulation he suffers.

As the trial commences today, pray that Shi would once and for all be acquitted and released. Pray also for his family as they continue to feel the absence of their father and husband.

You can receive contact information to speak out on behalf of Shi Weihan by clicking here.

The most recent attack came from the judge presiding over her hearing. Makkar's attorney told Compass News Direct that after questioning Makkar extensively, the judge talked with her alone.

"He said, 'Nobody changes from Muslim to Christian — you are a Muslim,'" attorney Nadia Tawfig recounts. "And she said, 'No, I am a Christian.' He told her, 'If I had a knife now, I would kill you'".

According to Tawfig, Judge Abdelaa Hashem questioned Makkar extensively about her faith. Makkar affirmed her Christian beliefs, explained her reasons for converting, and rejected the judge's claims that converting from Islam to Christianity was impossible. Makkar was charged with forging identification documents. Egyptian law doesn't allow for legal change of one's religion on identification papers.

Twenty-four-year-old Makkar was arrested while trying to flee Egypt with her family. Makkar says that since she converted to Christianity, members of her extended family threatened her continuously and vowed to kill her. Compass reports that the family tried to flee to Russia, but Makkar's passport was listed under her Christian name. Since that name was on a list of people prohibited from leaving the country, Egyptian authorities arrested Makkar at the airport.

"They did not [arrest her] to apply the law; they did it because of hate for Muslims converting to Christianity," said Helmy Guirguis, president of the UK Coptic Association, a human rights group. "They had both [her original and Christian] names and maybe a picture before she reached the airport."

In a continued attempt to force Makkar to return to Islam, police beat and tortured her. She also reports sexual abuse and demeaning behavior. Makkar's children, ages four and two, were denied food, and her husband was held under "emergency security." He remained in prison until January 19. Based on Makkar's testimony, authorities later released her husband, along with two men accused of helping Makkar obtain false papers. Authorities later took Makkar to the Al-Qanata prison, where she faced more persecution.

"One of them kicked her and tried to kill her," Tawfig said. "One took the Bible and threw it on the floor, pushed her and tried to make her go back to Islam. But she is strong."

Makkar was briefly released Jan. 22 on a bail of 3,000 Egyptian pounds (US$540) but was rearrested after prosecutors filed an appeal. Since the appeal failed, Makkar was allowed to return home to her husband and children this weekend pending trial. Tawfig and two other lawyers will represent Makkar before a different judge, but Tawfig isn't hopeful for less of a bias.

"I think it will be the same, because all judges are Muslim and are naturally upset about that [conversion]."

Pray that God's name and the truth of the Gospel will be spread through this situation. Pray that Makkar will not waver in her faith.