Middle East

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- An evangelical pastor in one of Iran's most notorious prisons announced on Christmas Eve he was "free in Christ" behind bars after forgiving guards and other inmates who mistreated him. Farshid Fathi, said though he faced a fourth Christmas in jail separated from his family, he had been "comforted by Immanuel", the Hebrew word for 'God is with us'.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Four Iranian evangelical Christians were free Sunday, December 21, after they were unexpectedly released from prison ahead of Christmas, but many other believers remained detained, several Iranian Christians confirmed.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service CAIRO/WASHINGTON (BosNewsLife)-- The United States Congress has urged Egypt to immediately release a Coptic Christian who has been jailed by Egyptian authorities since December 3, 2013 after he converted from Islam.

BREAKING: U.S. photojournalist Luke Somers held by al-Qaida militants in Yemen has been killed in failed U.S. rescue attempt, FBI confirms.

— BosNewsLife (@BosNewsLife) December 6, 2014

BREAKING(2)US photojournalist Luke Somers and South African aidworker Pierre Korkie held by al-Qaida militants in Yamen killed,officials say

— BosNewsLife (@BosNewsLife) December 6, 2014

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Three leaders of Iran's largest evangelical house church movement faced an appeal hearing against their long prison terms, but they were denied access to their lawyer ahead of the trial, supporters said.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian involved in an underground house church in Iran has been granted "conditional release" from prison, but Iranian Christians remain concerned about a fellow believer serving a five-year-sentence, supporters told BosNewsLife Monday, November 17.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife   TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)- An Iranian Islamic court has sentenced three leaders of the country's largest evangelical house church movement to six years imprisonment each on charges linked to their Christian activities, BosNewsLife learned Monday, October 20.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Some 20 Christians kidnapped by fighters linked to terror group al-Qaida in Syria have been released but their priest remained under house arrest Monday, October 13, awaiting an Islamic court trial, church sources said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- A Syrian priest and some 20 other Christians remained missing Wednesday, October 8, after they were kidnapped by Islamist militants near Syria's border with Turkey, church officials said.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Activists and Christians are concerned over the whereabouts of three detained Christian artists, including an actor who played the role of Jesus in an Iranian language film on the life of Jesus Christ. Shahram Ghaedi, who starred in the Iranian "Jesus" film, and artists Heshmat Shafiei and Emad Haqi were reportedly detained September 27 in the city of Fooladshahr, in Isfahan province.