Middle East

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- For the second time, an Egyptian court has rejected a Christian convert's request to change his religious affiliation on his identity card in a ruling described by critics as "a severe blow" to freedom of religion of ex-Muslims.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service SANA'A, YEMEN (BosNewsLife)-- Christian expatriates in Yemen, including missionaries, were reviewing their security arrangements Tuesday, June 16, following confirmation of the murders of at least three kidnapped foreigners by suspected Islamic militants, a Christian group with close knowledge about the situation said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service

(ADDS DETAINED ACTIVISTS, CHANGING LEAD)

TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- At least 10 reformists were detained before dawn Sunday, June 14, hours after Iranian officials said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected in a landslide victory, the Voice of America (VOA) network reported.

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 (ADDS NEW DETAILS, VICTORY CLAIM, NEW LEAD) TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has lost the presidential election, his challenger said, a development that was expected to be welcomed by Christians seeking more religious rights and the United States, where President Barack Obama seeks new relations with the strict Islamic nation.

By BosNewsLife Correspondents Eric Leijenaar and Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Devoted Christians in Iran anxiously awaited the outcome of their country's presidential elections Friday, June 12, amid hopes a new leader would allow more religious freedom in this strict Islamic nation and end a police crackdown on Christian converts.

BosNewsLife Middle East Service CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- Two Christian brothers were behind bars again Sunday, May 31, just weeks after being released from an Egyptian prison where they were held for a year on false charges of murdering a Muslim in Mallawi, Upper Egypt.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian family members and friends were still searching Saturday, May 30, for several former Muslims who converted to Christianity, after Iranian security forces detained them during a raid at a house church.

By Eric Leijenaar, BosNewsLife Senior Special Correspondent DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- A film about the life of the biblical Apostle Paul, which "clearly reflects the Gospel," has been watched in Syria by over a thousand Muslim clerics and politicians, including a government minister, organizers said.

By BosNewsLife News Center TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Britain-based Christian rights group has urged Iran's government to release two female Christian converts who remained detained Tuesday, May 12, a day after an American-Iranian reporter was freed from jail amid international pressure.