Ghorban Dordi Tourani

Pastors and other Christians in Iran have given their lives for their faith in Jesus Christ.

In November 2005, Ghorban Dordi Tourani, a 53-year-old Muslim convert to Christianity, was arrested by the secret police. A few hours later, his stabbed and bloody body was thrown in front of his home in Gonbad-e-Kavus, where Tourani lived with his wife and four children, according to Compass Direct.

A year before his death, Tourani wrote this prayer: "Lord Jesus, please let me glorify Your holy name in every moment of my life. I am willing to give my life that belongs to You, for the sake of You and Your church."

Within days of Tourani's murder, representatives of Iran's dreaded secret police, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), arrested and severely tortured 10 other Christians in several cities and raided the homes of all known Christians in Tourani's town.

Christians report that persecution has increased markedly and that believers are experiencing greater hardship since the election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in August 2005. He has pledged to restore an Islamic government in Iran. Islam is the official religion in Iran, and all laws and regulations must be consistent with the official interpretation of Shari'ah law.

Christian prisoners face strong psychological pressures, including threats to kill their family and other Christian believers, in order to force them to recant their Christian faith and return to Islam. Christians have lost their jobs and have had their shops shut down.

Still, a large group of Christians with a Muslim background continue to practice their newfound belief. One Christian worker said of the once-Muslim believers: "They aren't intimidated by the government and continue to spread the gospel. Muslims who came to the Lord in the past few years fear nothing and no one."

Persecution Report is presented in cooperation with Open Doors USA, which serves the Persecuted Church through training, Bible distribution, and community development. For more information, call 1-888-5-BIBLE-5 or visit www.odusa.org.

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