Christians persecuted in Iran...

This from VOM:

It has been more than six days since the arrest of Fereshteh Dibaj and her husband Amir Montazemi, and fears for their safety are growing. In particular, family members are very concerned for Fereshteh, daughter of the martyred Rev. Mehdi Dibaj, as no one has heard from her since her arrest in the early hours of Tuesday September 26th in Mashad, Iran.

"There has been no communication at all from Fereshteh since her arrest and we are very concerned", says Issa Dibaj, Fereshteh's brother who lives in the UK. "While Amir has been allowed a brief phone call home to say he is OK, there's been no word from Fereshteh. We simply don't know what has happened to her. She might have been tortured during the interrogations and may be too traumatized to talk, or it may be that the authorities are deliberately preventing her from talking to her six-year old daughter to put Fereshteh under as much psychological pressure as possible."

Family members have repeatedly pleaded with the local authorities in Mashad to let Fereshteh speak to six-year old Christine and assure them of her well-being, but each time the authorities have declined their request. Yesterday Mr Montazemi, Amir's 91 year old uncle, called the authorities and pleaded with them to at least let Fereshteh speak to her child. They told him to hang up so Fereshteh can phone. However, no such phone call came.

In Tehran, church leaders asked government officials to help secure the couple's release, but were told it was a matter for the secret police in Mashad and that they could not help.

No reason has been given by the authorities for the arrest of this Christian couple. Christians in Iran have faced persecution since the 1979 Islamic revolution and live with the threat of harassment, interrogations, imprisonment and even death. In 1994, Fereshteh's father was martyred when he was abducted and killed while on his way to Fereshteh's birthday party. He had spent over 9 years in prison prior to that on charges of converting from Islam to Christianity.

Fereshteh and Amir's family members are asking for the prayers of Christians world-wide. "We would like to ask people to pray for this situation. This issue does not just affect our family, but the whole church in Iran. Despite the threat of persecution, Iranian believers are courageous and are determined to live out their faith – they all need our encouragement and support at this time," explains Issa.

So much for the tolerance of the "Religion of Peace." But if there's anything that will change the hearts and minds of Muslims, it is the grace of GOD himself--and the power of prayer knows no bounds.

****UPDATE****

We have received news that Fereshteh Dibaj was today allowed to call her family. She informed them that she is well and that her husband Amir Montazemi is also well. It was the first contact from Fereshteh since she and her husband Amir were arrested on Tuesday September 26th. Amir had been allowed to make a brief call home on Friday September 29, but there had been no word from Fereshteh and there was increasing concern for her well-being.

Thank you to the many thousands across the world who have been praying for Amir, Fereshteh and their six-year old daughter Christine. Thank you also for sending many encouraging messages.

Please continue to pray for their release and for Christine who is staying with family members. Pray also for the church in Iran.

Grace and peace,

Pray for Iran

(Filed under V.O.M.)