About two and a half years ago, Youcef Nardarkhani, pastor of a 400-member church in Iran, went to the school of his two sons and objected to the school teaching the students Islam. He protested on the grounds that the Iranian constitution ensures freedom of religion. The secret police arrested him and brought him before a political tribunal in Rasht on October 12, 2009. At that time, he was charged for protesting, and has been in prison ever since.

He was later charged with “apostasy,” which is converting from Islam to Christianity. And then, the charge of “Evangelism to Muslims” was added and he was sentenced to death. His wife was also imprisoned and sentenced to life (she was later released). Even his attorney has been threatened and imprisoned. Over the past couple years, Youcef’s charges have been changed multiple times in an effort by the Iranian government to hide their persecution on Christians, and especially those who believe Brother Branham.

Brother Youcef is not the only believer to be persecuted inside of Iran. Pastors and believers throughout the country have been threatened, intimidated, beaten, and imprisoned, and many have left the country. One of these pastors, Behnam Irani, has been beaten on many occasions by fellow inmates with the approval of the prison authorities. He is serving a five-year sentence for the “crime” of being a Christian pastor and possessing Christian material.

The situation in Iran has gathered international media attention, putting pressure on the government to release Brother Youcef. They have recently offered him the opportunity to recant and go free. Of course, he flatly denied this compromise.

Please keep our fellow members of the Body of Christ in your prayers.