JANUARY 2014 Wenxi Li CHINA Zhang Shaojie CHINA
Mallikarjun Shingoli INDIA
Maryam Naghash-Zargaran IRAN
Robert Asserian IRAN Alireza Seyyedian IRAN
Pastor Sabokrooh & Shahnaz IRAN
Ebrahim Firouzi IRAN
Saeed Abedini IRAN
Mehrdad & Farogh IRAN
Mostafa Bordbar IRAN Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev KAZAKHSTAN
CHINA: Wenxi Li, a book store worker in Beijing, travelled to Shanxi province to help local Christians open a new book store in the capital city of Taiyuan. But police raided the new business, Enyu Bookstore, and confiscated hundreds of Christian books that Wenxi had brought with him. On June 17, 2013, Wenxi was sentenced to two years in prison for ‘illegally operating a business’, which he denies. The sentence was
upheld at a second court hearing.
CHINA: Zhang Shaojie, the pastor of Nanle County Christian Church, Henan province, was detained during a meeting with government officials at the church on November 16, 2013. The following day, 23 other Christians were detained. Most of the families of those detained do not know exactly where their loved ones are being held. Lawyers seeking to represent the believers have been obstructed and harassed.
INDIA: Pastor Mallikarjun has reportedly been charged with involvement in ‘an unlawful assembly’ and ‘forcible conversion’ but there are at present no specific details regarding his release on bail or indeed any possible future court appearance.
IRAN: Maryam is one of several Christian women imprisoned in Evin prison, Tehran. She has a history of heart problems and her health has deteriorated while in prison although she is reportedly receiving some medical treatment. She continues to need our prayers and our support.
IRAN: It has been reported that Pastor Robert Asserian, one of the leaders at the Central Assemblies of God Church in Tehran, was conditionally released from prison on July 2, 2013, after spending 43 days in custody. He has been instructed not to speak about his detention.
IRAN: Alireza Seyyedian has been a Christian since 2006. In December 2011 he was sentenced to six years in prison for ’crimes against national security’ and ‘propaganda against the regime’. He was also accused of holding regular meetings with former Muslims and distributing Bibles.
IRAN: Although officially sentenced in October 2012, Pastor Sabokrooh and his wife Shahnaz were summoned to appear, then were re-arrested and began serving out their sentence in May 2013. Pastor Sabokrooh was released on December 4, 2013, but his wife, Shahnaz, remains in prison for ‘converting to Christianity, inviting Muslims to convert and acting against state security through evangelistic activities.’
IRAN: In 2013 Ebrahim Firouzi was sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile for ‘propagating against the Islamic regime’. He remains in Evin prison.
IRAN: Saeed Abedini, who was sentenced to eight years in prison, has just spent his second Christmas in a prison cell. In November he was transferred from Evin to Rajai Shahr prison and reports suggest his health is deteriorating, and he is prohibited from receiving medication.
IRAN: During their interrogation it became clear that Mehrdad Sajadi and Forogh Dashtianpour had been arrested primarily because of their conversion to Christianity, preaching and teaching in Farsi, and their evangelistic ministry. The couple have both been released on conditional bail.
IRAN: After serving ten months in Evin prison for Christian activities, Mostafa Bordbar was released on November 3, 2013, and acquitted of all charges. Mostafa was arrested on December 27, 2012, for ‘attending an illegal gathering and participating in a house church.’
KAZAKHSTAN : After his arrest in May, Pastor Kashkumbaev was freed on October 8, 2013, to complete his pre-trial detention under house arrest. However, secret police waiting at the entrance to the prison immediately rearrested him. His wife and family had not seen him in five months. It appears that the authorities have launched a new criminal case against him.
Maryam Naghash-Zargaran IRAN
Robert Asserian IRAN Alireza Seyyedian IRAN
Pastor Sabokrooh & Shahnaz IRAN
Ebrahim Firouzi IRAN
Saeed Abedini IRAN
Mehrdad & Farogh IRAN
Mostafa Bordbar IRAN Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev KAZAKHSTAN
CHINA: Wenxi Li, a book store worker in Beijing, travelled to Shanxi province to help local Christians open a new book store in the capital city of Taiyuan. But police raided the new business, Enyu Bookstore, and confiscated hundreds of Christian books that Wenxi had brought with him. On June 17, 2013, Wenxi was sentenced to two years in prison for ‘illegally operating a business’, which he denies. The sentence was
upheld at a second court hearing.
CHINA: Zhang Shaojie, the pastor of Nanle County Christian Church, Henan province, was detained during a meeting with government officials at the church on November 16, 2013. The following day, 23 other Christians were detained. Most of the families of those detained do not know exactly where their loved ones are being held. Lawyers seeking to represent the believers have been obstructed and harassed.
INDIA: Pastor Mallikarjun has reportedly been charged with involvement in ‘an unlawful assembly’ and ‘forcible conversion’ but there are at present no specific details regarding his release on bail or indeed any possible future court appearance.
IRAN: Maryam is one of several Christian women imprisoned in Evin prison, Tehran. She has a history of heart problems and her health has deteriorated while in prison although she is reportedly receiving some medical treatment. She continues to need our prayers and our support.
IRAN: It has been reported that Pastor Robert Asserian, one of the leaders at the Central Assemblies of God Church in Tehran, was conditionally released from prison on July 2, 2013, after spending 43 days in custody. He has been instructed not to speak about his detention.
IRAN: Alireza Seyyedian has been a Christian since 2006. In December 2011 he was sentenced to six years in prison for ’crimes against national security’ and ‘propaganda against the regime’. He was also accused of holding regular meetings with former Muslims and distributing Bibles.
IRAN: Although officially sentenced in October 2012, Pastor Sabokrooh and his wife Shahnaz were summoned to appear, then were re-arrested and began serving out their sentence in May 2013. Pastor Sabokrooh was released on December 4, 2013, but his wife, Shahnaz, remains in prison for ‘converting to Christianity, inviting Muslims to convert and acting against state security through evangelistic activities.’
IRAN: In 2013 Ebrahim Firouzi was sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile for ‘propagating against the Islamic regime’. He remains in Evin prison.
IRAN: Saeed Abedini, who was sentenced to eight years in prison, has just spent his second Christmas in a prison cell. In November he was transferred from Evin to Rajai Shahr prison and reports suggest his health is deteriorating, and he is prohibited from receiving medication.
IRAN: During their interrogation it became clear that Mehrdad Sajadi and Forogh Dashtianpour had been arrested primarily because of their conversion to Christianity, preaching and teaching in Farsi, and their evangelistic ministry. The couple have both been released on conditional bail.
IRAN: After serving ten months in Evin prison for Christian activities, Mostafa Bordbar was released on November 3, 2013, and acquitted of all charges. Mostafa was arrested on December 27, 2012, for ‘attending an illegal gathering and participating in a house church.’
KAZAKHSTAN : After his arrest in May, Pastor Kashkumbaev was freed on October 8, 2013, to complete his pre-trial detention under house arrest. However, secret police waiting at the entrance to the prison immediately rearrested him. His wife and family had not seen him in five months. It appears that the authorities have launched a new criminal case against him.
Release Int.
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