The Iranian authorities continue to harass and detain religious and ethnic minorities, with religious leaders regularly facing false charges and lengthy sentences. Recent legislation has also led to violence against women and girls for not adhering to strict hijab laws.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/iran
Sunday 27 April
We are thankful for the release of Church of Iran leader Matthias (Abdulreza Ali) Haghnejad on 14 December, after serving a six-year sentence. However, yet another unjust case looms against him, dating back to his arrest at a Christmas gathering in December 2022 while he was on furlough from prison. Pray this case is dropped and he remains free.
Monday 28 April
Pray for the family of Ebrahim Firouzi, who died in February 2024. Ebrahim (an Iranian convert to Christianity) spent six years in prison and two in internal exile. Pray, too, for the family of Bijan Gholizadeh, who died in a road accident last August. The father of three had just been released on bail after spending six months in detention, including 20 days in solitary confinement.
Tuesday 29 April
Pray for women and girls across Iran who are being subjected to assault, harassment, and sexual and gender-based violence by state security forces, as the authorities continue to implement repressive measures to ensure the mandatory wearing of the hijab.
Wednesday 30 April
The Baha’i community (Iran’s largest religious minority) lacks legal recognition and has been targeted relentlessly with discriminatory and repressive measures. Pray for an end to this oppression, for protection for all members of the community, and for the release of those detained.
Thursday 1 May
Minorities face heightened violence and discrimination at the hands of the authorities. Pray for protection for all of Iran’s religious and ethnic minority communities, including Baha’is, Christians, Sufi Dervishes and Sunni Muslims.
Friday 2 May
Christians continue to face unsubstantiated national-security related crimes, lengthy sentences and even torture for normal Christian practices, such as taking communion, and ordinary social activities, like picnics. Pray for all who are currently imprisoned because of their faith, and that Christianity would no longer effectively be criminalised.
Saturday 3 May
Lord, we read in Amos 5:24: ‘let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!’ We pray for a heavenly justice to permeate every situation of darkness in Iran, and for righteousness to be established at the very heart of governance. Amen.