SYRIA: Assyrian Christians Released

Syrian Christians rejoice that several more Christian hostages have been released by Daesh (so-called "Islamic State") this month, but request prayer for the many who remain in captivity.

On 24th November ten Assyrian Christians were released by Daesh (five women and five men). This follows the release on 9th November of 37 Christians (27 women and ten men). All those released were among more than 230 Christians abducted in late February 2015 when Daesh captured around 35 predominantly Assyrian villages along the Khabour River in Hassaka Governorate in north-east Syria. Their release follows negotiations over many months by church representatives. There is some lack of clarity about how many of those abducted in February remain unaccounted for - a leader within the Assyrian Church of the East has advised that the figure is around 135, while the Assyrian Human Rights Network claims that 158 are still missing. In addition, many Christians are understood to be among more than 200 civilians who were abducted by Daesh in al-Qaryatain in Homs Governorate in early August, many of whom remain unaccounted for.

Syrian Christians continue to request prayer for peace in their land and for all affected by the ongoing violence, including Christian communities. In recent weeks many have fled from the predominantly Syriac Orthodox town of Sadad in Homs Governorate, fearing a Daesh advance. In October 2013 Sadad was briefly overrun by militants from the al-Qaeda affiliate group Jabhat an-Nusra, who murdered at least 45 Christians and desecrated churches.

Syrian Christians ask us to pray that:

a. those who have recently been released will know the Lord's comfort, healing and provision 

b. all those who remain in captivity will find refuge in God, know His strength and protection, maintain a faithful witness to Christ, and be released soon 

c. those displaced from their homes will know the Lord's care and provision, and be able to return soon 

d. violence will cease, peace will be restored and the clear rule of law will be applied equally for all in Syria 

e. those responsible for the murder and abduction of innocent civilians will know the Spirit's conviction of sin, seek the Father's forgiveness and find new life in the Son

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Middle East Concern

www.meconcern.org

URL for this prayer request: http://meconcern.org/index.php/en/prayer-requests/981-syria-assyrian-christians-released

IRAN: Prisoner Released from Shiraz

Friends and relatives of Suroush Saraie are pleased to announce that he was released from prison yesterday, 11th November.

Suroush Saraie and Mohammad Roghangir were arrested on 5th July 2014 in Bandar Azali in northern Iran. They were taken to prison in Shiraz in order to serve sentences handed down in July 2013.

Suroush and Mohammad were among seven arrested in Shiraz when a prayer meeting was raided on 12th October 2012 as part of a wider campaign of intimidation by Iranian authorities against Christians and other religious minorities. Those arrested were affiliated with the self-styled 'Church of Iran' network.

In July 2013 those arrested were convicted of "action against national security" and "propaganda against the order of the system". Suroush was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and Mohammad received a sentence of six years. In July 2014 they started serving their sentences in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz. The others, who were sentenced to terms varying from one to five years, were also summoned to prison in Shiraz over the following months.

Suroush and his family rejoice at his release, but former prisoners often continue to experience hardship. In some cases released prisoners have been pressurised by security officials to become informers. Many former prisoners suffer psychological trauma and struggle to find employment.

Iranian Christians request our prayers that:

a  Suroush will quickly recover from his imprisonment and that he and his family will be strengthened in the Lord and adapt to normal family life 

b.  those who remain in prison, including Mohammad and the others from Shiraz, will be comforted and released soon 

c.  all prisoners in Iran will be treated with respect and dignity as beings created in the image of God

d.  all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him

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Middle East Concern

www.meconcern.org

URL for this prayer request: http://meconcern.org/index.php/en/prayer-requests/978-iran-prisoner-released-in-shiraz

Iran: Believers arrested

Iranian Christians request prayer for at least fourteen believers from Muslim backgrounds who were arrested earlier this month in Varamin in Tehran Province. Relatives of those arrested have requested that this incident be made public and that as wide a prayer network as possible be engaged on behalf of the victims.

On November 1st security agents raided a house church in Varamin, south-east of Tehran, and arrested at least thirteen of those present, including Poorkaveh, Simmin, Bahram, Amin, Leyla, Zahra, Mehdi and Farzaneh, Shayan, Sara, Nazanin, Elnaz and Mohammad.

The following day another Christian connected with the house church was arrested at his home in Tehran.

Many of those arrested were formerly members of Emmanuel Protestant Church in Tehran, which was forced to stop its Farsi-language services in 2012, resulting in the formation of several informal house churches.

The present whereabouts of those arrested is unknown to family and friends, who are concerned for their safety. They request our prayers that:

a. those arrested and detained will know God's strength and love, that they will answer their interrogators with patience and wisdom, and that they will be released soon 

b. the families and friends of those detained will know the Lord's strength, peace, protection and support 

c. all prisoners in Iran will be treated with respect and dignity as beings created in the image of God

d. all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him

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Middle East Concern

www.meconcern.org

URL for this prayer request: http://meconcern.org/index.php/en/prayer-requests/974-iran-believers-arrested