Please continue to pray for an Iranian Christian convert from Islam who was released on bail of more than £8,000 ($10,000; € 9,300) on 30 April after spending more than four months in detention.
Esmaeil Narimanpour was arrested at around 6pm on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2023 and charged with “acting against national security by communicating with Christian ‘Zionist’ organisations”.
Esmaeil’s home in Dezful in western Iran was raided in a search conducted without a warrant, and Christian books were confiscated. He was allowed to telephone his family on Christmas Day to inform them that he was being held in Ahvaz, around 100 miles south of Dezful. Esmaeil was among several converts cleared of “propaganda” charges in 2021 but subsequently forced to attend Islamic classes.
Esmaeil Narimanpour was detained for more than four months on charges of “acting against national security” [Image credit: Article 18]
Esmaeil was among at least 46 Christians arrested across Iran in a crackdown on house churches during the Christmas period.
Unlike the historic Armenian- and Assyrian-speaking Christian communities, Farsi-speaking Christians such as Esmaeil are converts from Islam – that is, apostates – and therefore punishable according to Islamic law.
Give thanks for Esmaeil’s release on bail. Pray that he will experience God’s strength and guidance as the legal process continues. Ask that charges against him will be dropped and his case will be dismissed.
