Prayer Focus Update March 2025

“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 36:7

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Iran – Two Christians “pardoned” by authorities are rearrested

Please pray for two Iranian Christians who have been rearrested by the authorities despite being pardoned and released from prison on charges relating to their roles in running “house churches”.

Naser Navard Goltapeh and Pastor Joseph Shahbazian, both in their early 60s, were taken from their homes in the Tehran region on 6 February by intelligence agents and returned to Evin Prison, notorious for its mistreatment of prisoners.

A number of other Christians were reported to have been arrested at the same time.

Naser, an Iranian Christian convert from Islam, was released in October 2022 (see Prayer Focus Update, November 2022), mid-way through a ten-year sentence for “acting against national security”. He was alleged to have maintained links to churches and Christian groups outside Iran, in addition to his role in running a “house church”.

While in prison Naser, a speaker of Farsi, the national language of the Muslim majority in Iran, wrote a letter from his cell questioning why worship in “house churches” is viewed as a threat to national security.

The Iranian authorities often target Christian worship meetings in Farsi to discourage the conversion of Muslims to Christianity.

Pastor Joseph, an Iranian-Armenian, was released in September 2023 (see Prayer Focus Update, October 2023) after spending 13 months in Evin Prison.

He was originally sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment for holding church meetings in his home, thus “forming and operating illegal organisations with the aim of disrupting the security of the country”. The sentence was reduced to two years in May 2023.

Historic Assyrian and Armenian Christian minorities, who have their own languages not spoken by the Muslim majority, are usually allowed to worship freely in those languages.

Cry out to the Lord on behalf of our brothers Naser and Joseph. Ask Him to protect and strengthen them as they endure this latest test by the Iranian authorities. Pray that they will both know the assurance of God’s blessing as they encounter yet more evil said against them falsely on account of their faith in Jesus (Matthew 5:11). Pray that they will be freed swiftly from their unjust imprisonment. Intercede also for other Christians recently arrested that they will stand firm in this time of trial.

Kyrgyzstan – Repressive religion laws ban sharing faith in public

Prayers are needed for Christians in Kyrgyzstan after new legislation increased restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, including a ban on sharing faith in public (see Prayer Focus Update, January 2025).

It was announced on 21 January that President Sadyr Japarov had signed into law the new Religion Law and accompanying Amending Law, both effective from the beginning of February. The Zhogorku Kenesh (Parliament) gave final approval to the two new laws on 26 December.

Among numerous restrictions, the Religion Law maintains the ban on all unregistered religious activities.

Churches and other religious groups must receive state approval to legally exist and hold meetings. In order to be registered, all local religious organisations must now provide evidence of at least 500 adult founder members resident in a single region. (The previous law stipulated a minimum of 200.)

The Amending Law authorises sharp increases in fines for groups that violate such restrictions.

Pray that Christians will find ways of meeting and sharing fellowship despite the restrictions of the new laws. Ask that believers will be steadfast in their faith and increase in hope as they encourage one another through the scriptures (Romans 15:4). Pray that the Church in Kyrgyzstan will grow in every respect to become a mature body of believers under Christ’s headship (Ephesians 4:15) as they respond to these challenges.

Nigeria – Suspected Fulani Islamists kill at least 15 Christians in Ebonyi State

Please lift up in prayer a Christian community in Ebonyi State, in south-eastern Nigeria, after at least 15 residents of three villages were killed in an attack by gunmen on Sunday 2 February.

Suspected Fulani Islamists attacked Amagu, Amaokwe and Umunesha in Nkaleha community, Ishielu Local Government Area early that morning. Initial reports indicated 10 people were killed and several houses burned down.

The bodies of five more villagers who tried to flee the scene were later recovered in the bush. It was feared that the death toll would increase as other residents were still missing following the incident.

The Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, visited the community on 4 February and urged the security forces to find and apprehend the perpetrators within 24 hours.

On 5 February police issued a statement announcing the arrest of one of the perpetrators while he was attempting to flee. The suspect directed police to the gunmen’s hideout where weapons were recovered, although the other perpetrators escaped arrest.

Call on the Lord to comfort the Nkaleha community in their loss and enable them to rebuild their lives. Ask Him to grant the security forces success in bringing those responsible to justice. Pray that Christians in the region will know Him as their stronghold and deliverer (Psalm 37:39-40) and that He will protect His people from such attacks throughout Nigeria.

Pakistan – Mentally ill Christian charged with “blasphemy”, but twin brothers acquitted; 13-year-old Christian girl abducted

A mentally ill Christian man in Punjab province urgently needs our prayers after being arrested on “blasphemy” charges.

Farhan Javed, 28, was detained on 26 January after he was alleged to have made derogatory remarks against Islam to a farmer in Sahiwal.

He was arrested under the Pakistan Penal Code sections 295-A and 298-A, which carry maximum jail sentences of ten and three years, respectively, as well as section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Family members say Farhan, who lives with his widowed mother, has been falsely accused of “blasphemy”, a crime he can’t comprehend because of his medical condition.

They are fearful that even rumours of “blasphemy” can stir up outrage among Muslim extremists and cause mob violence. District police dispatched officers to Sahiwal to ensure the safety of Farhan, his family and the Christian neighbourhood. Officers were also posted outside the village church.

Church leaders and minority rights activists have called for Farhan to be medically examined to confirm his condition and his inability to stand trial.

Also in Punjab, 18-year-old twin brothers Kalu (also known as Yeshua) and Tabish, both Christians, were acquitted of the charge of “blasphemy” on 25 January. The brothers, from Kasur District, were arrested in August 2024 and accused of desecrating the Quran at an annual festival. As part of the festival, the crowd threw torn pieces of paper into the air. It is alleged that paper thrown by Kalu and Tabish contained verses from the Quran.

They were charged under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which requires life imprisonment for those who wilfully defile, damage or desecrate a copy of the Quran. After several witnesses were cross-examined, the judge ruled that there was no evidence against the brothers and ordered their immediate release.

Meanwhile, in Lahore, Punjab’s capital, a 13-year-old Christian girl was abducted on 5 January, forcibly converted to Islam and “married” to her abductor.

Saba Shafique left her home to buy milk at 7am that morning but did
not return.

The abductor was identified as Muhammad Ali, 35, from the same district and known to Saba’s family.

Ali, who is already married, kidnapped Saba and took her to Nawabshah in Sindh, more than 580 miles to the south-west.

Shafiq Masih, Saba’s father, said that “witness accounts and CCTV footage confirm [Ali’s] involvement in my daughter’s abduction”.

Praise the Lord for answered prayer with the acquittal of Kalu and Tabish. Pray that their release will deter those who abuse Pakistan’s “blasphemy” laws to accuse vulnerable Christians without justification. Pray that the allegations against Farhan will also be proven to be unfounded and the charges against him dismissed. Ask God to sustain him with His peace in these bewildering circumstances (Psalm 29:11). Pray for His protection over Farhan, his family and Christians in Sahiwal. Pray that Saba’s forced conversion and marriage will be exposed and for her safe return to her family. Ask that the Pakistani authorities will be more proactive in combating the practice of Muslim men abducting Christian girls, and girls from other minority communities.

D.R. Congo – At least 89 Christians killed by Islamists in north-eastern provinces

Christians continue to suffer amid conflict in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the past month at least 89 more Christians have been slaughtered by Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) in the region.

The province of Ituri was most severely affected. On the worst of several days of violence, Sunday 2 February, 28 Christians were killed in attacks on three villages near Ndalya.

In North Kivu Province, nine were killed and around 30 houses burned down in Lubero District in one armed assault on 29 January.

At least 237 Christians have been killed by ISCAP (also known as the Allied Democratic Forces) since Christmas 2024.

Meanwhile, north-eastern DRC is suffering upheaval caused by conflict between the M23 armed rebel group and the DRC military.

The M23 seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu, on 27 January. The rebels then captured Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, on 17 February.

Yet another armed group, CODECO, killed at least 50 people, assaulted women, and burned houses in the Djaiba region of Ituri on 10 February.

Three Christian humanitarian workers from Swiss Church Aid were killed by unknown attackers in North Kivu on 7 February.

Ask the Lord to protect Christians targeted by ISCAP and caught amid other armed conflicts in the north-eastern DRC (Psalm 72:14). Pray that He will direct the provision of the urgently needed aid to those displaced, through Barnabas Aid and other agencies. Pray for an end to the violence that continues to blight the region.