Iran

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Jailed Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who faces execution for converting from Islam to Christianity, will be soon without a lawyer as his defense attorney has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment, a church official told BosNewsLife late Tuesday, May 8.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- An Iranian Christian convert was free Sunday, April 29, after he was released from Tehran's notorious Evin prison following some 180 days of imprisonment, but concerns remained over other detained believers, Iranian Christians said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian security forces have destroyed a 200-year-old Christian cemetery in southeastern Iran after they earlier used bulldozers to remove an historical church in the area, Iranian Christians said in comments monitored by BosNewsLife Thursday, April 26.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Family members of jailed Iranian Pastor Behnam Irani fear he may die behind bars amid mounting concerns about his rapidly deteriorating health and prison mistreatment, an official assisting him with advocacy told BosNewsLife Wednesday, April 25.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN/STOCKHOLM (BosNewsLife)-- There was concern over the plight of several Iranian Christian asylum seekers in Sweden Tuesday, April 24, after Swedish authorities decided to deport them despite fears they may be jailed or even executed there, Christians said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in Iran and around the world were praying and fasting Wednesday, April 11, for Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who celebrated his 35th birthday in prison where he awaited possible execution on charges of "apostasy", or abandoning Islam.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- An Iranian court is to deliver a verdict in a case against 12 Christians who stood trial on Easter Sunday for charges that included "crimes against the order" an official assisting them said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Twelve Christians are to stand trial in Iran on Easter Sunday on charges including "crimes against the order", an activist assisting them with advocacy told BosNewsLife.  

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- The young son of jailed Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has celebrated his birthday with his father in prison, Christians with close knowledge about the situation said Wednesday, April 4.  

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- At least a dozen devoted Christians from Iran's third largest city remained in jail Saturday, March 17, as part of an attempt by authorities to discourage Muslims and Christian converts to attend church services, Iranian Christians said.