ishtartv.com - mnnonline.org
By
Julie BourdonMay 3, 2018
Miles
Windsor of Middle East Concern says it can be very challenging to be a
Christian in Iran. “That notwithstanding, it’s a place where we see the Church
growing and developing and Christians being, really, very bold with their faith
in the spread of the Gospel. So there are reasons for encouragement there as
well.”
Windsor
shares the case of Assyrian pastor, Victor Bet Tamraz, who he says has been a
target of harassment for many years now. Tamraz was arrested, along with
several other Christians, including Amin Naderi Afshari, at a Christmas
celebration on December 26, 2014.
Originally,
they were released on bail. However,
Amin was rearrested two years later at a picnic along with Hadi Asgari and
several others. They were then held in Evin Prison in Tehran, a prison
notorious for its poor conditions. Amin was finally released on bail last July,
and Hadi was likewise released this past April. However, it seems their
troubles are far from over.
“There
was a hearing on the 11th of June last year. And a judge called Ahmadpour
issued his verdict in July, sentencing Pastor Victor and Hadi Asgari to ten
years imprisonment and Amin Naderi to 15 years imprisonment for conducting
evangelism and illegal house church activity. So, these are charges which are
entirely directed at their Christian faith.”
He
explains that usually, this type of persecution against Christians is veiled
under charges like “undermining national security”. Initially, terminology was
used like this in the case against Pastor Victor, Hadi, and Amin. But now, the
fact that this is about their Christian faith has been spelled out in the
charges.
And
if this case is any indication, Christians could be facing longer prison
sentences in the future.
“Whilst
Christians have consistently been put in prison for their faith in Iran in considerable
numbers, the length of the sentence has seemed to have increased in the recent
year or so,” Windsor says.
Before
this, Christians could typically expect to serve 18 months to five years in
prison.
The
defendants had an appeal hearing on April 25th. Windsor says a degree of
encouragement came out of that hearing.
“It’s
interesting what causes encouragement for Christians facing persecution in Iran
because the encouragement wasn’t necessarily that they felt that they were
about to receive an acquittal but rather that they were allowed to give their
side of the story.”
Additionally,
the judges overseeing the appeal hearing seemed to be respectful of the
defendants and their lawyer.
The
relationship between the United States and Iran means that there’s little that
can be done politically on behalf of Pastor Victor, Hadi, and Amin. However,
there is still something very important and powerful that all of us can do.
“The
key for us, hearing and watching this from a distance is to be praying for
them—praying for their continued witness to the love of Jesus in Iran, praying
for their continued strength under extraordinary pressure, and praying for
justice to be done in their situation.”
Middle
East Concern encourages you to stay up to date on what is happening with
believers like these so that you can continue to pray for them. Learn more,
here.
“We
ultimately have the most powerful figure, if you like, to go to… for advocacy,
with our cases, and that’s the Lord Jesus. So, I’d encourage that as a primary
sort of activity.”
Finally,
you can let these believers know you are standing with them by by signing this petition at
avaaz.org.
|