Iran

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- The wife of a jailed Iranian-American pastor has denied Iran's claims that her husband will be released on bail as an attempt to "silence the international media." Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency reported that Saeed Abedini, who faces death by hanging for "illegal" Christian activities that "threaten" state security, would be freed imminently after posting $116,000.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran has launched the "systematic persecution and prosecution" of "Protestants and Christian converts" with a Muslim background, closing churches, detaining believers and threatening some with execution, a new report claims.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran has "temporarily released" a frail pastor and Gospel artist from jail in Tehran after he posted a massive bail amid concerns over his health, Iranian Christians said early Friday, January 11.

(ADDS MORE DETAILS ON THOSE DETAINED) By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran on Monday, January 7, released Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was jailed on Christmas Day to serve the remainder of a sentence for evangelism among Muslims, his evangelical house church movement confirmed.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J, Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran has allowed jailed pastor and Gospel artist Vruir Avanessian to receive routine dialysis after warnings he would die, but two other house church Christians were detained early Monday, December 31, Christians said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian security forces have detained a pastor and Gospel artist after raiding a house church in the capital Tehran, despite warnings he will die within days without adequate medical help, Iranian Christians said Sunday, December 30.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- An Iranian pastor, who is jailed in Tehran on charges linked to his Christian activities, says he is praying for the parents who lost their children in a recent school shooting in the U.S. State of Connecticut.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was recently acquitted of apostasy, has been returned to prison on an earlier charge, rights activists told BosNewsLife late Tuesday, December 25.

By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- BosNewsLife's Dec 9-Dec 23 news coverage was dominated by reports on Christians and Jewish people clinging to their faith amid shootings, a changing political environment, and at least some justice for victims of what was Europe's worst atrocity since World War Two.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian Church leaders have urged prayers for Christians in Iran amid concerns authorities will raid more house churches and detain believers over the Christmas and Western New Year period.