Two Christians, Pastor Amin Khaki and Rokhsare Ghanbari (Mahrokh), were asked not to return to prison to complete their sentences after their temporary release amid concerns about the spread of Covid-19.
Pastor Amin was arrested together with four other Christians in 2017. He was released in early 2018 after submitting 30 million Tomans (7,000 USD) in bail, but was subsequently sentenced to 14 months in prison for ‘spreading propaganda’.
Rokhsare Ghanbari (Mahrokh) was arrested by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence in July 2019, and was subsequently sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj on charges of ‘spreading propaganda against the system’. She was targeted because she had converted to Christianity and attended a house church.
Grave fears surrounding Covid-19 have made people even hungrier for spiritual truth, and more Iranians have been reported to be turning to Christ.
House-church leaders have encouraged every believer to be an evangelist. Some are posting New Testaments through letter boxes. One response to a new evangelist ran: ‘We’re stuck at home. Every night we read the verses you share from your Bible. Your God is so loving and kind.’ Today, that family are new believers.
