Middle East

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A group of 19 influential human rights groups have urged the United Nations and the international community to help protect Christian converts in Iran saying scores of believers were detained for leaving Islam. In a statement to BosNewsLife the activists said that the "Islamic Republic of Iran" has been "homing in on converts from a Muslim background".

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BosNewsLife)-- Iraqi Christians are facing crucifixions, torture and sex slavery in areas controlled by the Islamic State group, but at least some of them have forgiven those who persecuted them, according to testimonies seen by BosNewsLife.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN/ANKARA (BosNewsLife)-- Behnam Irani, one of Iran's leading evangelical pastors, has been reunited with his family after spending six years in an Iranian prison on charges linked to his Christian activities, a spokesman told BosNewsLife.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian pastor Behnam Irani has been released from prison after serving some six years behind bars for charges linked to his Christian activities, friends with close knowledge about the situation told BosNewsLife Tuesday, October 18.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in Iran have urged prayers after three fellow believers from a Muslim background were sentenced to 80 lashes each for drinking wine in a communion service, while in another case three of five men detained during a Christian picnic were released.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Families and friends of five Iranian Christians detained during a picnic and fishing expedition in Iran say they are "deeply concerned" for their welfare and are "requesting prayer," BosNewsLife learned.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- Rights activists have expressed concern about the plight of Mohamed Hegazy amid fears the Christian convert may have been forced to publicly embrace Islam after he was allegedly jailed and tortured by Egyptian authorities.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Relatives and friends say three Azeri Christians and an Iranian Christian remain behind bars in Tehran, nearly a month after they were detained as part of a larger government-backed crackdown on evangelicals. Seperately, Iranian authorities released Amin Khaki from Ahvaz Prison, after he served part of a one-year sentence for "spreading Christianity" in this strict Islamic nation, supporters told BosNewsLife.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- A former Muslim who became an outspoken evangelical Christian has been forced to return to one of Iran's most notorious prisons because of her faith in Jesus Christ, despite concerns about her health, friends and supporters told BosNewsLife

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran has released a Christian convert who served a four-year prison term on charges linked to her Christian activities to receive medical treatment, several Christian sources told BosNewsLife.