Iranian government arrests Christian pastor, closes church

Last updated on: May 28, 2013 at 11:46 pm by CNA Daily News

Iranian government arrests Christian pastor, closes church 2013-05-28T23:46:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., May 28, 2013 / 05:46 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The pastor of a Pentecostal church in Iran was arrested last week during a religious service, and the church has now been closed by government officials, according to news reports.

“These incidents appear to be an attempt to stop worship services from being conducted in Farsi, the language of the majority of Iranians,” said George Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God in the United States.

He explained to to BosNewsLife, a Central European Christian news service, that such worship services “are allowed in Armenian, a minority language that most Iranians do not speak or even understand.”

The Central Assemblies of God church in Tehran was closed on May 27 following the arrest of Pastor Robert Asserian during a service held at the church six days earlier. Members of his congregation said they do not know where he is being held.

“Before going to the church, authorities raided Pastor Asserian’s home, where they confiscated a computer and several books,” Wood said.

“Then, they found Pastor Asserian at the church leading the prayer service, immediately arrested him and announced the church’s imminent closure.”

Asserian is the latest in a series of Christian pastors to be arrested and detained in Iran. While Iranian law offers some protections for Chaldean Catholic and Armenian Christians, it does not recognize or protect members of Protestant Christian groups or other kinds of Catholic Christians.

Pastor Saeed Abedini, a United States citizen, was arrested in September 2012 and received an eight-year sentence in Iran’s Evin prison. According to family members, he has been brutally beaten and denied medical care.

In addition, Pastor Behnam Irani is being held in Ghezel Hesar Prison near the capital of Iran, where recent reports indicate that health is deteriorating.

Another Christian pastor, Yousef Nadarkhani, was imprisoned in Iran for converting away from Islam. He spent three years in prison and received a death sentence before being released amid mounting international pressure.

Religious freedom and human rights groups are now seeking to raise similar awareness and pressure on behalf of the other imprisoned pastors. A petition to the White House has been launched on behalf of Irani, while a social media campaign is underway to support Abedini.

Middle East - Africa

Uncategorized

Previous Post

May 28, 2013

Pope: when Christians lack difficulties, 'something is wrong'

Next Post

May 29, 2013 Examine what prevents intimacy with Christ, Pope says

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the name of the first book in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

John Luke Matthew Mark