Middle East

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian convert remained in an Iranian jail Wednesday, February 29, after being sentenced to three years imprisonment for his Christian activities, trial observers said.  

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- Iran delayed the execution of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani which was due Tuesday, February 28, apparently amid international pressure, an online Israeli news network reported.  

TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Several Iranian Christians remained behind bars Tuesday, February 28, including an elderly frail woman, after security forces launched a "systematic series of arrests in different parts of Iran" to "counter the growth of Christianity and the house church movement"Iranian Christians said.  

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran's government is trying to play down credible reports that jailed Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani's execution is imminent for refusing to recant his faith in Christ, amid mounting international concern BosNewsLife monitored Monday, February 27.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON/TEHRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Jailed Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was believed to be still alive Saturday, February 25, after the European Union and the United States urged Iran not to carry out an execution order and demanded his immediate release.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani facing imminent death has urged his church to remain "firmly in Christ" shortly after a court apparently ordered his execution, a church official told BosNewsLife. Nadarkhani was still alive Wednesday afternoon local time, February 22, but it remained unclear when he would be hanged on charges of "apostasy" or "abandoning Islam", confirmed the pastor's Church of Iran council member Firouz Khandjani.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran again ordered the death penalty for jailed Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani for refusing to recant his faith in Christ and return to Islam raising fears his execution is imminent, a well-informed church official told BosNewsLife Tuesday, February 21.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- The health of a jailed pastor of one of Iran's largest evangelical house church movements is deteriorating and there were fears Monday he may die, a well-informed representative told BosNewsLife.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife DAMASCUS/VIENNA (BosNewsLife)-- Hundreds of Syrian Christians have been killed and several Christians kidnapped as fighting rages between government forces and rebels, an aid group working in the region told BosNewsLife Thursday, February 16.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Embattled Iranian Christians urged prayers Tuesday, February 14, as Iranian security forces reportedly launched a crackdown on devoted 'official' churches and house congregations operating outside government control.