Middle East

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service AMMAN, JORDAN (BosNewsLife)-- Preparations were underway in Jordan's capital Amman for "the first ever Christmas meal for Christian refugee children from Iraq and Syria" who have been "mostly ignored by Islamic charities," organizers said.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran's feared secret police "assaulted" the wife and children of jailed evangelical Pastor Behnam Irani after they raided their home, a family supporter told BosNewsLife late Sunday, December 15

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A frail Iranian pastor has been sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment for "anti-government activities" and "promoting ideas contrary to the sanctity of the Islamic Republic of Iran," trial observers confirmed Thursday, December 12.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A devoted Iranian Christian has been transferred to a ward of Tehran's notorious Evin prison to serve a three-year sentence for evangelism and related charges, Iranian Christians told BosNewsLife Saturday, December 7. Rasoul Abdollahi, who converted to Christianity, was reportedly accused of "collusion against the government and evangelism" following a crackdown by security forces on Christian groups.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Syria's minority Christians faced another day of anxiety Thursday, December 5, amid mounting concern about the fate of a group of nuns who were abducted by suspected Islamic fighters.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Syrian Christians and rights activists say Islamic militants have begun deploying rockets to target Christian sites, killing at least five young children this month alone. The announcement follows international concern about reports that rebel forces based on the outskirts of Damascus daily fire mortar shells at the capital, which is firmly under government control.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- There is mounting concern about the fate of a Christian man who is jailed in Iran on charges of evangelism. Hossein Saketi Aramsari, also known as Stephen among his friends, has been detained since July 23, including in the city of Karaj, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) west of Tehran, Iranian Christians said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife) -- Egypt's Christian minority, also known as Copts, has become increasingly concerned by the growing number of Christians who have been kidnapped, across the country, Christian activists said Tuesday, November 26. More than 30 Christians were reportedly kidnapped in the southern province of Minya last month alone. Local observers say the situation is especially serious in Minya, a provincial capital, which has been dubbed the "kidnapping capital of Egypt".

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- An Iranian Christian inmate is suffering of serious health problems due to mistreatment in prison, Christians said Saturday, November 16.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Six Christians remained behind bar s in Iran's southwestern city of Shiraz Friday, November 8, after an appeals court upheld their sentences totalling 20 years of imprisonment for illegal Christian activities, trial observers said.