While most Christian families in Iran celebrated Easter Saturday on April 16, for our sisters Fariba Dalir and Sakine (Mehri) Behjati, the holiday was bittersweet. Instead of preparing for a day of celebration of their faith's greatest day, according to Article 18, the two women started two-year prison sentences in the infamous Evin Prison and Lakan Prison, respectively. Let's remember our precious sisters in Christ who are suffering in a way we can never imagine.
Fariba was arrested alongside her then-fiance, Soroush, and 4 other Christian converts in Tehran in July of last year. While awaiting sentencing, Fariba and Soroush married, but will now spend 2 years apart as she is in prison for "acting against national security by establishing and leading an Evangelical Christian church." The others arrested with her received various sentences and fines.
Mehri was in a different group of 4 converts arrested in February 2020 because they belonged to a house church in Rasht. Each woman received between 2 and 5 years in prison for "acting against national security" and "Spreading Zionist Christianity."
Iranian justice has been under scrutiny in recent months for its erraticity. Nine Christian converts were acquitted by an appeals court for :insufficient evidence." Those acquitted were guilty of similar charges as Fariba and Mehri. Nethertheless, Fariba and Mehri need your prayers as they endure prison for their faith.
Father God, hold these two brave women firm in Your love and grace. Protect them from violence and fear. Make them examples of faith and forgiveness in prison and use them to draw yet more people into Your family. Give their families comfort and courage as they await their return.
Thanks so much for praying, Yah bless you. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert
Fariba was arrested alongside her then-fiance, Soroush, and 4 other Christian converts in Tehran in July of last year. While awaiting sentencing, Fariba and Soroush married, but will now spend 2 years apart as she is in prison for "acting against national security by establishing and leading an Evangelical Christian church." The others arrested with her received various sentences and fines.
Mehri was in a different group of 4 converts arrested in February 2020 because they belonged to a house church in Rasht. Each woman received between 2 and 5 years in prison for "acting against national security" and "Spreading Zionist Christianity."
Iranian justice has been under scrutiny in recent months for its erraticity. Nine Christian converts were acquitted by an appeals court for :insufficient evidence." Those acquitted were guilty of similar charges as Fariba and Mehri. Nethertheless, Fariba and Mehri need your prayers as they endure prison for their faith.
Father God, hold these two brave women firm in Your love and grace. Protect them from violence and fear. Make them examples of faith and forgiveness in prison and use them to draw yet more people into Your family. Give their families comfort and courage as they await their return.
Thanks so much for praying, Yah bless you. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert