Iran

By BosNewsLife News Center TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- American Iranian free-lance journalist Roxana Saberi who reported for Vatican Radio and other international media has been freed from a Tehran prison, amid international pressure, her attorney confirmed Monday, May 11.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- In a potential setback for Christians seeking religious freedom, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was "re-elected", officials said, but his main rival called the declared victory "treason to the votes of the people."

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A pastor of the Central Assemblies of God (AoG) Church in Tehran was detained Tuesday, May 21, as part of Iran's wider crackdown on evangelical believers,  Christian rights activists confirmed. The arrest of Reverend Robert Asserian came as his church prepared for possible closure by the end of June due to pressure from the feared Iranian Intelligence Ministry, said advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN/LONDON (BosNewsLife)-- British Christian legislators expressed concern Monday, November 19, about the "serious and growing persecution and discrimination" of Iranian Christians and said at least dozens of believers remain detained amid a crackdown on Christian converts in Iran.

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 Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN/ANKARA (BosNewsLife)-- Behnam Irani, one of Iran's leading evangelical pastors, has been reunited with his family after spending six years in an Iranian prison on charges linked to his Christian activities, a spokesman told BosNewsLife.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN/THE HAGUE (BosNewsLife)-- Global pressure was increasing Saturday on Iran to halt the execution of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, with over one million people reportedly participating in an online social networking service demanding his release and actions across Europe.        

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)-- Rights activists said late Friday, October 4, they were "extremely concerned" about what they called "a serious deterioration in the health" of a 35-year-old Iranian Christian woman who is serving a four year sentence in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A pastor of a leading evangelical denomination in Iran has been returned to prison after he was beaten and disappeared earlier this month, Christians and activists confirmed Thursday, June 26.