Update On The Iranian Crackdown On Christians

The other day I wrote about the latest development in the Muslim persecution of Christians in the Middle East--the Iranian crackdown on Christians.

I wrote that The Boston Globe reported on the Iranian crackdown on Christians:

Iran has arrested about 70 Christians since Christmas in a crackdown that demonstrates the limits of religious tolerance by Islamic leaders who often boast they provide room for other faiths. The latest raids have targeted grass-roots Christian groups Iran describes as "hard-liners" who pose a threat to the Islamic state. Authorities increasingly view them with suspicions that range from trying to convert Muslims to being possible footholds for foreign influence. Christian activists claim their Iranian brethren are being persecuted simply for worshipping outside officially sanctioned mainstream churches. Caught in the middle is the small community of Iranian Christians who get together for prayer and Bible readings in private residences and out of sight of authorities. They are part of a wider "house church" movement that has taken root in other places with tight controls on Christian activities such as China and Indonesia.

The website Christians In Crisis has an update on the current situation of those Christians who have been arrested in Iran:

Greetings Since our earlier release on the Christians arrested in Iran, the situation has become even more serious. We urge you to continue in prayer for these Christians. They have been taken from their homes and families and are enduring incredible hardship in prison. Our friends at Elam Ministries have sent us another release and we want to pass it on to as many people as possible. We have included the names and pictures of some of those who have been arrested to aid in your prayers:

PRAYER NEEDED NOW FOR ARRESTED CHRISTIANS BEING INTERROGATED Since our January 4th email about the arrest of Christians, there has been no contact from those detained on December 26th 2010. It is almost certain they are in interrogation Block 209 in the basement of Evin Prison, Tehran. This is where Christians are initially taken, according to other believers who have endured imprisonment. While being interrogated, the arrested are blindfolded and questioned by different officers for hours on end. After the questioning, the prisoners are returned to their cells until called again to the interrogation room. Whenever they leave their cells, they are blindfolded. Intense psychological pressure is put on the Christians to renounce their faith. There are many reports that prisoners held in this block have been tortured. During the time of interrogation, which can go on for over a month, no contact with family members is allowed. Iranian church leaders are calling for an international day of prayer and fasting for Christian prisoners in Iran this Sunday, January 16th, 2011. Please join us in praying for the suffering church in Iran. Please pray for: Christians to remain strong during this trial. A swift end to this ordeal. Thank you for your prayers, Elam Ministries

On the left are the pictures and names of some of those who have been arrested.

Evin Prison Block 209 

Technorati Tag: Muslim Persecution Of Christians.