Faith
Iranian Christians Jailed for Their Faith
Faith Facts
- Christian converts in Iran face harsh prison terms for practicing their faith.
- Nayereh Arjaneh and two brothers began serving sentences around Christmas for their Christian beliefs.
- Iran ranks ninth globally for Christian persecution, but faith communities continue to grow.
Persecution of Christians in Iran remains severe, as believers are sentenced to prison simply for following Christ and sharing the Gospel. Around Christmas, Nayereh Arjaneh, Mahmoud Mardani-Kharaji, and Mansour Mardani-Kharaji all began serving lengthy terms for their devotion to their faith.
Arjaneh was given five years in Semnan Prison after being convicted of so-called “deviant propaganda,” which amounted to living out and manifesting her Christian beliefs.
“Nayereh has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison; however, under Iranian law, only the most severe sentence – five years of imprisonment in this case – is enforceable,” Article 18 shared in a statement.
Her punishment also included heavy fines, internal exile, and a travel ban, reflecting the authorities’ determination to silence Christian witness. Her husband, Qasem Esmaili, received a multi-year sentence but has not begun serving it due to medical treatment for cancer.
For Arjaneh and many other converts, gathering for worship within Iran is impossible, forcing some to seek fellowship across borders. Prior to her incarceration, she endured weeks of detention and psychological torment, including threats of execution.
Brothers Mahmoud and Mansour Mardani-Kharaji, both in their 50s, were taken to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. Their sentences included four years in prison, exile, fines, and a ban from participating in groups, imposed for holding Christmas gatherings and expressing their faith in Jesus Christ.
Another believer, Aida Najaflou, was granted a temporary release from Tehran’s Evin Prison due to medical concerns after a serious injury. Awaiting appeal, she faces a 17-year sentence for her Christian activities, but like others, is required to serve the longest of her sentences—10 years.
Their courage stands as a powerful reminder of the strength found in Christ and the enduring hope of the persecuted church. Despite opposition, the church in Iran continues to grow and bear witness. Let us pray for these faithful brothers and sisters and for religious liberty to shine in dark places.
Faith Facts
- Telegraph column claims Christian leaders like Justin Welby should pray instead of seeking therapy.
- Priest Fr Mark Edwards, enduring depression, defends medication as God-given healthcare.
- Biblical figures Elijah, David, and Job faced despair yet upheld unwavering faith.
A recent Telegraph piece by Celia Walden questioned why former Archbishop Justin Welby pursues therapy rather than solely confiding in God.
Fr Mark Edwards, a clergyman recovering from severe mental health crisis, deems this perspective wrong and harmful to pastoral care.
What’s the point of God if even Justin Welby is seeing a therapist?
Edwards stresses therapy and antidepressants complement prayer, rejecting any notion of faith failure.
He notes never advising cancer patients to skip chemotherapy for prayer alone, questioning mental health double standards.
I have never told someone with cancer to refuse chemotherapy and “just pray.” Why is mental health treated differently?
Welby’s resignation stemmed from Church safeguarding failures, unrelated to his beneficial psychiatric support.
Faith sustains through suffering; Scripture unflinchingly depicts prophets’ anguish without invalidating devotion.
Public shaming risks silencing strugglers, endangering lives when medicine upholds God’s gift of healing.
Believers, integrate godly hope with professional care to glorify Him in wholeness. Subscribe to Faith and Freedom Report for Biblical truths defending family and freedom.
Faith Facts
- Kenya’s CHAK facilities serve 40% of population with just 11% of institutions.
- Zambia’s government funds mission hospital staff and medicines for stability.
- CHAK pilots saved 40% costs, boosted efficiency 50% via local models.
Faith-based health leaders in Kenya and Zambia praise U.S. policy shifts under President Trump for sparking vital innovation and self-reliance in African health systems.
Trump’s America First Global Health Strategy cut USAID dependency, redirecting aid through direct government partnerships that honor stewardship and local ownership.
Dr. Chris Wekesa Barasa of CHAK noted, “For the last 20 years… we started talking about transition of HIV funding and global aid to developing countries. But I think we never took it seriously.”
He added, “It made us go back to the drawing board and start thinking, oh, it’s actually possible that we don’t have money.”
Karen Sichali-Sichinga of CHAZ highlighted Zambia’s model: “For us, right from the beginning… the policy was that health centers were free.”
She affirmed government support: “If they’re going to deploy health workers and pay their salary to mission hospital, really, I mean, that is commendable.”
Sichinga warned, “The health system in Zambia consists of the government, the private sector, the faith sector and traditional healers.”
Barasa celebrated efficiencies: “We actually realized that we were having cost efficiencies.”
Faith networks prove essential in rural areas, delivering proven care rooted in Christian compassion amid declining foreign aid.
Embrace biblical self-reliance, pray for these providers upholding life and family values globally, and champion policies restoring national sovereignty.
Faith Facts
- Open Doors World Watch List 2026 reveals 388 million Christians endure high, very high, or extreme persecution and discrimination daily.
- Initiative addresses not just violence but daily barriers to jobs, education, and justice, turning believers into second-class citizens in many nations.
- Approved by a narrow margin despite leftist opposition, urging stronger EU, Council of Europe, and UN action against faith-based massacres.
Spain’s Congress Foreign Affairs Committee has approved a conservative Popular Party initiative to fortify protections for persecuted Christians worldwide, echoing biblical calls to defend the faith amid rising global threats.
MP Maribel Sánchez highlighted religious freedom as a core human right, enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, serving as a vital measure of true democracy rooted in God’s design for human dignity.
“These are not isolated incidents”
declared Sánchez, but a
“structural pattern”
fueled by authoritarian regimes and wars eroding God-given freedoms.
PSOE’s socialist spokesperson accused conservatives of Islamophobia.
Vox and even some leftists affirmed the urgent need to safeguard vulnerable Christian minorities from kidnappings, assaults, and jihadist terror, upholding Judeo-Christian values.
“It’s not that everyone is being persecuted all the time, but they live in a context where they are vulnerable and their rights are limited in their daily lives”
notes Open Doors Spain director Ted Blake.
Stand with our persecuted brethren through prayer and advocacy—defend faith, family, and freedom as patriots rooted in Scripture.
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