Iran

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in Iran have urged prayers after three fellow believers from a Muslim background were sentenced to 80 lashes each for drinking wine in a communion service, while in another case three of five men detained during a Christian picnic were released.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Families and friends of five Iranian Christians detained during a picnic and fishing expedition in Iran say they are "deeply concerned" for their welfare and are "requesting prayer," BosNewsLife learned.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Relatives and friends say three Azeri Christians and an Iranian Christian remain behind bars in Tehran, nearly a month after they were detained as part of a larger government-backed crackdown on evangelicals. Seperately, Iranian authorities released Amin Khaki from Ahvaz Prison, after he served part of a one-year sentence for "spreading Christianity" in this strict Islamic nation, supporters told BosNewsLife.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A former Muslim who became an outspoken evangelical Christian has been forced to return to one of Iran's most notorious prisons because of her faith in Jesus Christ, despite concerns about her health, friends and supporters told BosNewsLife

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran has released a Christian convert who served a four-year prison term on charges linked to her Christian activities to receive medical treatment, several Christian sources told BosNewsLife.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani of the Church of Iran, the country's largest house church movement, and his wife Tina Pasandide Nadarkhani have been released from detention but three other church members remain in custody, a senior church official told BosNewsLife Saturday, May 14.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- An evangelical pastor of one of Iran's largest house church movements, who faced a death sentence for apostasy before being acquitted, was again detained Friday, May 13, along with his wife and another church member, Christian rights activists told BosNewsLife.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Four Christians in Iran will stand trial for "spreading Christianity" in the strict Islamic nation, a well-informed advocacy official told BosNewsLife, charges that could lead to long prison terms and possible a death sentence.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN/BERLIN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian-born American Pastor Saeed Abedini was expected to receive medical attention in Germany on Sunday, January 17, after he was released by Iran following more than three years of imprisonment in what his wife said were harsh circumstances. Naghmeh Abedini told reporters that after she learned Saeed Abedini was released early Saturday, January 16, she woke their two children saying: "Daddy is coming home."

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN/VIENNA (BosNewsLife)-- Iran on Saturday, January 16, released Iranian-born American pastor Saeed Abedini along with Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and two other Americans who had been held in Iranian prisons