Iran's Evin Prison Pastor Farshid Fathi
As the United States attempts to finalize a nuclear deal with Iran, more evidence of the Islamic Republic’s brutal treatment of Christians and other religious minorities is surfacing. The latest concerns the case of Iranian Christian prisoner Farshid Fathi.
When family members of the four Americans imprisoned in Iran urged members of Congress to link the nuclear deal to the release of their jailed loved ones, Farshid was in the midst of losing his appeal against serving an extra year in prison and receiving 74 lashes.
He’s been imprisoned since Iranian agents raided his house church in December 2010. Farshid was originally given a 5-year prison sentence for actions “against national security.” Translated, that really means he was guilty of leading Muslims to Christ.
The Islamic regime is determined to stamp out house churches because it believes Christian “extremists” are using them as part of a plot to transform Iranian society. That is somewhat true. If more Iranians come to Christ—and tens of thousands are each year—who will need, or want the ayatollahs in power?
Farshid was given the additional one year sentence along with the 74 lashes after alcohol was found in his cell during an Easter 2014 prison raid. Farshid denied the alcohol was his—it was likely planted there by resolute prison guards ordered to take action to extend his jail time.
I produced a story about Iranian Christians shortly after that raid last year. Watch this edited portion of it to learn more about Farshid Fathi, and then keep praying for him--and the estimated 89 other Christians who are currently suffering for Christ in Iranian prisons!