July 6, 2017
An Iranian pastor has just paid a high price for refusing
to obey official orders about how he should run his church – he’s been given a
ten-year jail sentence!
Almost a month after his hearing, Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz has learnt
he’s been declared guilty of ‘evangelism’, among other charges. Two Christians
on trial with him – Amin Afshar Naderi and Hadi Asgari – also face long prison
sentences, on charges which included ‘acting against national
security’.
Please pray that God’s peace will fall afresh on Pastor Victor, Amin and
Hadi.
The three men appeared in court on June 11 – two-and-a-half years after
Victor and Amin were arrested at Pastor Victor’s house in Tehran province on Boxing Day 2014. Hadi was arrested
last August at a picnic in Firuzkuh, along with
Pastor Victor’s son Ramiel.
Judge Ahmadpour has now sentenced Victor to ten years’ imprisonment, Amin
to 15 years and Hadi to ten years plus a two-year travel ban. They plan to
appeal.
In a further blow, Pastor Victor’s wife, Shamiran Issavi, has now been
charged with ‘participating in foreign seminars’ and ‘acting against national
security’. Both she and her son Ramiel are released on bail and are now awaiting
trial.
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