MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Hebrews 13:3, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

Pastor Behnam Irani and his wife and children

By Stefan J. Bos, BosNewsLife – “An evangelical pastor who has been jailed in Iran for his Christian activities said Monday, September 23, he has been told by a court to remain behind bars because he ‘did not change’.

Speaking to BosNewsLife through an interpreter, Pastor Behnam Irani made clear he remained faithful to Christ, despite court pressure to return to Islam.

‘I’ve the joy of the Holy Spirit. I’m very thankful for Christian activists who are fighting alongside with us,’ added the pastor.

Irani, 43, began a one-year prison term in 2011 but was later told he would also have to serve a five-year, previously suspended, sentence for ‘crimes against national security’.

There has also been concern he may face execution after a court advised such a sentence for alleged ‘apostasy’, or abandoning Islam…

Christians have linked the sentence to Irani’s Christian activities as an effective evangelical pastor of a 300-strong house church congregation of the evangelical Church of Iran movement.

The pastor is held at the Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj city, one of the toughest jails in the country, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the nation’s capital Tehran.

He confirmed that the mistreatment and poor hygiene in the prison left him in poor health, including reported intestinal problems and rheumatism, but said he is ‘is fighting’.

Despite the difficulties, he told BosNewsLife he was ‘doing fine’ as his Christian faith keeps him strong.

On Monday, September 23, Irani said, he had been able to meet his wife and two young children…

His family has been trying to ask a local court ‘to pardon’ him and allow the pastor to be released from prison.

‘However a judge said he could not do so because I did not change my way’, Irani said.

A local court reportedly made clear he could be pardoned and released from prison only if he repented and returned to Islam. The pastor said he has refused and remains faithful to Christ.” Read more.

Flashback: Unable To Buy Or Sell: Iran Refusing Business License For Convert To Christianity, Orders Businesses Not To Employ Christians – “Iranian authorities refuse to allow a young man to start his own company because he converted to Christianity and was previously detained on charges of ‘apostasy’, or ‘abandoning Islam’, Iranian Christians said Saturday, July 14. The Iranian Christian, who was not identified, had reportedly been trying to obtain a business license for ‘a technical company’ in northern Iran… Outside prison, government offices are reportedly ordered not to employ Christians and Christians have been deprived from high school or university education, or running their own schools, according to Iranians with close knowledge about the situation.” Read more.