Middle East

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran has jailed the lawyer of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who was sentenced to death for "apostasy from Islam"  before being released unexpectedly last month, Christians and rights activists confirmed Tuesday, October 2.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Jailed Iranian pastor Behnam Irani, who potentially faces the death penalty for "apostasy", or abandoning Islam, suffers of "various medical problems" in part because of prison mistreatment, an official assisting him with advocacy told BosNewsLife Friday, September 28.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting from the Middle East, Asia and Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BEIRUT/CAIRO/ISLAMABAD (BosNewsLife)-- Christians across the Muslim world faced turmoil Friday, September 14, as deadly protests against an anti-Islam film spread across the Middle East, Africa, and south and east Asia.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos and reports from the region TRIPOLI/CAIRO (BosNewsLife)-- Minority Christians in Egypt and Libya faced potential violence Wednesday, September 12, after American Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three staff members were killed when gunmen attacked the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi to protest a film deemed offensive to Islam.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife Special Correspondent Joseph DeCaro AMMAN, JORDAN (BosNewsLife)– Christians in Jordan on Monday, September 10, were mourning am American missionary after police confirmed over the weekend she was stabbed to death by a teenager.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN/RASHT (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was sentenced to death and became a symbol of what his church called "suffering Christians" in this heavily Islamic nation, could embrace his wife and children Saturday, September 8, after he was unexpectedly released from prison, BosNewsLife learned.

(ADDS MORE COMMENTS, BACKGROUND, ANTICIPATED RELEASE) By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN  (BosNewsLife)-- In an unexpected turnaround, an Iranian court on Saturday, September 8, effectively ordered the release of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who was sentenced to death on charges for "apostasy", or abandoning Islam, his church told BosNewsLife.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent with BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran's religious leadership has pressured church leaders to testify against a jailed Iranian pastor who faces a new trial Saturday, September 8, for "apostasy", which carries the death penalty.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A jailed Iranian pastor, who may be executed for "apostasy", already faces death as authorities continue to deny him medical care despite earlier promises, a church official and close friend told BosNewsLife.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS/BEIRUT (BosNewsLife)-- Thousands of Christians remained trapped in a besieged village in Syria late Friday, August 24, without food and regular electricity, a local leader and Catholic aid workers told BosNewsLife.