Iran

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Embattled Iranian Christians urged prayers Tuesday, February 14, as Iranian security forces reportedly launched a crackdown on devoted 'official' churches and house congregations operating outside government control.  

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian security forces have raided a house church and detained 10 members who gathered for a prayer service as part of a winder crackdown, Iranian Christians said Thursday, February 9.  

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A pastor of a major house church movement in Iran has begun serving a five years prison sentence, for "crimes against the order", while a colleague has been detained amid drug addicts, a well-informed human rights official told BosNewsLife Wednesday, February 1.

>Pastor asked to acknowledge Muhammed as "God's messenger" in exchange for release >Lawyers summoned to discuss deal >Nadarkhani still facing execution for abandoning Islam By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has rejected an offer to be released from prison if he publicly acknowledges Islam's prophet Mohammed as "a messenger sent by God" well-informed Christians and rights activists said Friday, January 13.  

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian woman who was detained as part of Iran's crackdown on devoted Christian converts has been released after more than nine months imprisonment, but concerns remain over other jailed believers, BosNewsLife learned Saturday, December 31.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A senior evangelical pastor and his wife are spending Christmas behind bars in southern Iran after security forces raided their Assemblies of God-affiliated church, detaining everyone in the building, including children attending Sunday School, a friend of the couple told BosNewsLife.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Evangelical Christians in Iran fear a massive crackdown by security forces around Christmas and say Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani may be executed earlier than authorities suggest, a senior church official told BosNewsLife Monday, December 19.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has to serve at least one more year in prison before he may be executed for refusing to abandon his faith in Christ and return to Islam, an official assisting him told BosNewsLife Thursday, December 15.  .

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran has ordered three evangelical house church pastors to report to prison within a month and serve lengthy jail terms on charges linked to their Christian activities, a well-informed source told BosNewsLife late Tuesday, November 29.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN/BRUSSELS (BosNewsLife)-- The European Union has urged Iran to release evangelical Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who is facing the death penalty for refusing to recant his faith in Christ and return to Islam, a key European legislator told BosNewsLife.