Iran

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Jailed Iranian pastor Behnam Irani, who potentially faces the death penalty for "apostasy", or abandoning Islam, suffers of "various medical problems" in part because of prison mistreatment, an official assisting him with advocacy told BosNewsLife Friday, September 28.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos and reports from the region TRIPOLI/CAIRO (BosNewsLife)-- Minority Christians in Egypt and Libya faced potential violence Wednesday, September 12, after American Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three staff members were killed when gunmen attacked the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi to protest a film deemed offensive to Islam.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN/RASHT (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was sentenced to death and became a symbol of what his church called "suffering Christians" in this heavily Islamic nation, could embrace his wife and children Saturday, September 8, after he was unexpectedly released from prison, BosNewsLife learned.

(ADDS MORE COMMENTS, BACKGROUND, ANTICIPATED RELEASE) By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN  (BosNewsLife)-- In an unexpected turnaround, an Iranian court on Saturday, September 8, effectively ordered the release of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who was sentenced to death on charges for "apostasy", or abandoning Islam, his church told BosNewsLife.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent with BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran's religious leadership has pressured church leaders to testify against a jailed Iranian pastor who faces a new trial Saturday, September 8, for "apostasy", which carries the death penalty.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A jailed Iranian pastor, who may be executed for "apostasy", already faces death as authorities continue to deny him medical care despite earlier promises, a church official and close friend told BosNewsLife.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian doctors want to remove part of the intestines of jailed Iranian Pastor Behnam Irani, who is facing death on fresh charges of "apostasy", or abandoning Islam, a close friend and church representative told BosNewsLife Saturday, August 4.  

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- An Iranian house-church leader has been released after spending 560 days in prison "because of his Christian faith," Iranian Christians told BosNewsLife Thursday, Wednesday 19.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- There was mounting concern Tuesday, July 17, about the health situation of jailed and mistreated Iranian Pastor Behnam Irani after he became unconscious and was hospitalized, an official assisting him with advocacy said.  

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- 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.