I R A N P R I S O N E R P R A Y E R L I S T
Chronologically, starting from the most recent arrests, the names of Christians imprisoned for their faith and the location of their arrest are listed. This list is based on information gathered from our partner, Middle East Concern (MEC). Please note that this is not a complete list of prisoners arrested for their faith; it only includes names that are known. The prisons in Iran are notorious for the bad conditions; many face health problems and suffer from depression. Join in prayer for both physical and spiritual protection, and that in spite of their conditions and challenges, they can shed the light of Jesus to others.
MAY, 5, 2014 – KARAJ SILAS RABBANI (M) – Three agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security came to arrest
Silas who is an associate of Pastor Behnam Irani and Amin Khaki, who are also in prison.
APRIL 18, 2014 – TEHRAN EHSAN SADEGHI (M), NAZI ASADI (M), MARYAM ASADI (F), VAHID SAFI (M), AMIN MAZLOOMI (M) – Arrested during a house church meeting, authorities arrived armed and carrying walkie-‐talkies.
Searching the house, they terrified all those who were present, but arrested only these four Christians. Currently, there are no details regarding the detainees' current whereabouts. Efforts from their families to find out about their situation have not been effective.
MARCH 5, 2014 – KHUZESTAN AMIN KHAKI (M), HOSSEIN BARUNZADEH (M), RAHMAN BAHMAN (M), MOHAMMAD BAHRAMI (M) – Arrested at a picnic, these men are members of imprisoned pastor Behnam Irani’s congregation.
They were taken away, blindfolded and interrogated for several hours by armed intelligence and security agents. Mohammed, a recent convert, was released, but was summoned a month later where he was apprehended and taken to an undisclosed location. The reason for their arrest was that the men lived in Karaj, and were forbidden by the Iranian government to travel. Travel bans and arrests are part of a new campaign to pressure active pastors of house churches. It is believed that they are now imprisoned at the Karoon Prison in Ahwaz.
DECEMBER 31, 2013 – KARAJ SARA RAHIMI NEJAD (F), MAJID SHEIDAEI (M), MOSTAFA NADRI (M), GEORGE ISAIAN (M) –
Arrested during a house church meeting; they were beaten and their personal belongings were confiscated. Their current location of imprisonment is unknown.
(Updated Aug 2014)
DECEMBER 24, 2013 – TEHRAN HOSSEINI (M), AHMAD BAZYAR (M), FAEGEH NASROLLAHI (F), MASTANEH RASTEGARI(F), AMIR HOSSEIN NEMATOLLAHI (M) – Arrested during a house church meeting on Christmas Eve. The security
agents confiscated books, CDs, a computer, and satellite TV receiving equipment. The whereabouts and situation of these five detainees is unknown.
DECEMBER 2013 -‐TEHRAN, EVIN PRISON RASOOL ABDOLLAHI (M) – Rasoul is part of Pastor Farshid Fathi’s congregation, and was first arrested
with him in 2010. In December 2013, he was convicted on charges of “collusion against the government and evangelism”, and sentenced to 3 years in prison. Currently, he is being held at the Evin Prison.
AUGUST 29, 2013 – TEHRAN SAHAR BARZEGAR (F) (6 MONTHS, 40 LASHES), KAMYAR BARZEGAR (M) (6 MONTHS, 40 LASHES), AMIR EBRAHIMI (M) (6 MONTHS, 40 LASHES) – Security forces raided a house church in
Tehran and interrogated all attendants. Everyone in attendance was forced to submit their identity documents; only these three were arrested. Current location is unknown.
AUGUST 2013 – TEHRAN MARYAM NAGHASH ZARGARAN (F) (4 YEARS) – Maryam’s arrest reportedly had to do with her
involvement with imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini’s orphanage and her house church activities. Because months had passed before it became known that she was imprisoned, this raises the suspicion that there are more Christians imprisoned than we don’t know about. Currently, she is being held at the Evin Prison.
AUGUST 2013 – TEHRAN EBRAHIM FIROUZI (M) (1 YEAR PRISON, 2 YEARS EXILE) – Ebrahim was sentenced to one year in
prison and a subsequent two year exile to Sarbaz, an isolated village on the border with Pakistan.
AUGUST, 9 2013 – TEHRAN PARHAM FARAZMAND (M),SEDIGHEH KIANI (F), SARA SARDSIRIAN (F), MONA FAZLI (F) ONE PRISONER’S NAME IS UNKNOWN – These five were arrested during a house church meeting.
Personal belongings were confiscated, mobile phones were searched, and violence was used against them. All those attending the house church meeting were forced to surrender their identity cards. Only these five were arrested.
AUGUST 2013 -‐ ISFAHAN SEDIGHEH AMIRKHANI (F), MAHNAZ RAFIEEE (F), MOHAMMAD REZA PEYMANI (M ) – Family
members have tried numerous times to get information about their situation, but have been unsuccessful. Only Sedigeh has been able to call her family once and tell them about her imprisonment and interrogations by the secret service. (Updated Aug 2014)
JULY 17, 2014 – TABRIZ MOHAMMED-‐REZA PIRRI (M) – Mohammad-‐Reza was reportedly tortured and beaten while detained
requiring treatment in the prison’s hospital. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
JULY 12, 2013 – TEHRAN NASIM ZANJANI (F) – Nasim was arrested at her parents’ house. The house was searched, and Nasim’s
computer, Christian books and CD’s were confiscated. Her current location is unknown.
JULY 11, 2013 – TABRIZ YASHAR FARZIN-‐NO (M) – Yashar is imprisoned, but his current whereabouts are unknown.
JULY 10, 2013 – TABRIZ FARSHID MODARES-‐AVAL (M), HAMID REZA (M ) – Reportedly beaten while detained. Their current
whereabouts are unknown.
MAY 29, 2013 – ISFAHAN MOHAMMAD-‐REZA FARID (M), SAEED SAFI (M), HAMID-‐REZA GHANDIRI (M) – Arrested during a
house raid. Others were present, but not detained. Two of the believers are of Afghan origin. One was operating a website which was blocked by the authorities several weeks previously. Current location is unknown.
MARCH 2013 – TEHRAN SOMAYEH BAKHTIARI (F), RONAK SAMAVIT (F) – The arrest of Somayeh and Ronak only became
known in August 2013. They were arrested for house church activities. Currently, these women are held at the Evin Prison.
JANUARY 2013 – TEHRAN SHAHRZAD (M), SAM (M) – Arrested during coordinated raids in Tehran, their homes were searched,
and literature and computer equipment was confiscated. They have been accused of “formation and promotion of house churches and holding gatherings intended for committing crimes.” Their current location is unknown.
OCTOBER 2012 SHAHIN LAHOUTI (M) (2.5 YEARS) – Shahin was arrested during a prayer meeting in October 2012
together with seven others. After paying high ransoms, they were released. In July 2013, they were all convicted on charges of “illegal activities” and “propaganda against the Islamic Regime.” Shahin was summoned to prison in April 2014; the seven others are waiting to be summoned to prison to serve their sentence. Currently, he is held in Shiraz Prison.
(Updated Aug 2014)
JULY 2012 -‐ KARAJ SAEED ABEDINI (M) (8 YEARS) – Arrested during a trip visiting an orphanage in 2012; he was
sentenced to eight years in prison. He is currently imprisoned in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj; a prison notorious for housing violent murderers and rapists. His health continues to deteriorate because of numerous beatings. After a recent stay in the hospital in May 2013, Saeed was sent back to prison. Saeed (33) is married to Nagmeh and is the father of Rebekka (7) and Jacob (6). Saeed is an American citizen.
MAY 25, 2012 – NEISHABOUR HADI, ALIREZA – Both were arrested during a raid on their house church conducted by plain-‐clothed
agents of the Ministry of Islamic Guidance. All attendees were briefly arrested, but only these two remain detained. Currently, they are held at the Mashhad Prison.
MARCH 2012, TEHRAN -‐ EVIN PRISON ALIREZA SEYYEDIAN (M) (3.5 YEARS, 90 LASHES AND A $1650 FINE) – Alireza was convicted after
authorities found a video of his baptism in Turkey among the personal belongings. Alireza was first sentenced to 6 years in prison, but after his appeal, this was reduced to 3.5 years. Currently held at the Evin Prison, Alireza suffers from acute depression and is struggling with an addiction.
MARCH 2012 -‐ TEHRAN
MOHAMMADREZA HOSSEINI (M) – Mohammadreza is a member of the same house church as Alireza
Seyyedian. He is held at the Bandar Abbas Prison.
FEBRUARY 2012 -‐ SHIRAZ, VAHID HAKKANI (M), MOJTABA HOSSEIN (M), HOMAYOUN SHOKOUHI (M ) – These prisoners have
told trusted sources that they have lots of opportunities to share the gospel inside the prison. Homayoun’s wife, Fariba, and son, Nima (17), have also been imprisoned, but are now (temporarily) released. Recently, Vahid has been on a hunger strike to protest the rejection of his conditional release appeal by judicial authorities. This hunger strike has weakened his physical condition. The men are currently held at the Adel-‐Abad Prison.
FEBRUARY 21, 2012 – KERMANSHAH MOJTABA BABA-‐KARAMI (M), MEHDI CHAGHAKABOUDI (M ) – Arrested together with eleven other
believers during a raid on their house church, nine of them were released the next day after signing a statement that they would refrain from Christian activities; two others were released the following weeks. Mojtaba and Mehdi, however, remain detained; their location is unknown.
OCTOBER 24, 2011 SAHAR MOUSAVI (F) – Sahar is a Christian student activist; her current location is unknown. (Updated Aug 2014)
DECEMBER 2010 – TEHRAN FARSHID FATHI MALAYERI (M) (6 YEARS) – Farshid was arrested during Christmas. He is said to be ‘a
beacon for Christ’ in prison, beloved by the inmates for his sweet nature. In April, prison guards broke his foot during a raid. Farshid (35) is married to Leila, and has two children: Rosana (10), and Bardia (4).
MAY 2011 – KARAJ BEHNAM IRANI (M) (6 YEARS) – D uring the first months of his imprisonment, Behnam was held in
solitary confinement. Despite his poor health condition, he was denied medical treatment. While he recently received some medical treatment, his health remains a cause of concern. Behnam is married to Kristina, an Armenian Christian, who had been held at the border for several hours during Behnam’s absence. They have a daughter, Rebecca (12) and a son, Adriel (5). Their family house has also recently been raided while both Kristina and the kids were present. He continues to struggle with serious health problems. On June 7, 2014, Behnam was transferred to an unknown location after he protested a summons of the court. On June 23, he was transferred back to his cell at the Ghezal Hesar Prison.
(Updated Aug 2014)
R E L E A S E D P R I S O N E R S Pray also for those who have been imprisoned for their faith, but are released. Their struggle isn’t over yet; they need rest and recovery. It’s often too dangerous for them to have contact with other Christians because of spies. This isolated position can impede the restoration process. Often, they are pressured to not tell anything to anybody about what they’ve been through. They need the powerful love and consolation of the Lord. MITRA ZAHMATI (F) /SUMMER 2011 -‐ SEPTEMBER 2013 MARYAM JALILI (F) /SUMMER 2011 -‐ SEPTEMBER 2013 MUSTAFA BORDBAR (M) /DECEMBER 2012 -‐ NOVEMBER 2013 SEVADA AGHASAR (M) /AUGUST 2013 -‐ 2 MARCH 2014 PASTOR FARHAD SABOKROUH (M)/MAY 2013 -‐ DECEMBER 2013 SHAHNAZ (F) (WIFE OF PASTOR FARHAD)/RELEASED JANUARY 2014
The Assemblies of God church has been closed, pastor Farhad is not allowed to be pastor anymore, and Shahnaz is forced to report to the secret services every four months. NASR ZAMEN-‐DEZFULI (M) /MAY 2013-‐ DECEMBER 2013 DAVOUD ALIJANI (M) /MAY 2013 -‐ JANUARY 2014 FARIBA SHOKOUHI (F) /A FEW MONTHS IN 2012
Husband still imprisoned NIMA SHOKOUHI (M -‐ 17-‐YEARS-‐OLD) /A FEW MONTHS IN 2012
Father still imprisoned MOHAMMED REZA PARTOEI (M) /FEBRUARY 2012 – MAY 2014
(Updated Aug 2014)