Iranian Intelligence Agency Raids Assemblies of God Church
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During the Christmas service on
the morning of Friday, December 23, at the Assemblies of God church in
Ahvaz
(also known as Ahwaz), Iran, multiple news agencies have reported that
the
Iranian Intelligence Agency raided the church. Pastor Farhad Sabokrouh,
his
wife, Shahnaz Jizani, and the entire congregation — children included —
were
arrested, loaded on buses and taken to an undisclosed location for
interrogation.
Mohabat News says that after
several hours of interrogation, the detainees were released, with the
exception
of Pastor Farhad Sabokrouh, his wife and two other members — Naser
Zamen-Dezfuli and Davoud Alijani. Currently, the location, treatment and
condition of the four remain unknown.
“We have spoken to our area
directors and leaders in the region and have confirmed that this action
did
indeed take place,” states AG General Superintendent George O. Wood.
“Although
direct communication into Iran is very difficult and some of the details
of the
arrest remain unclear, what is clear is that our brothers and sisters in
Iran
need our prayers for supernatural endurance, wisdom and protection.”
According to the Christian Today
Australia, this is not the first time that Christmas celebrations in
Iranian
churches have been raided in this way. Similar raids and detentions
during the
Christmas season have occurred in Iran for the last three years.
Ironically, the Iranian
Student’s News Agency (http://www.isna.ir),
posted
that on December 21, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani sent a
message to Pope Benedict XVI, which, in part, stated that Jesus Christ’s
teachings should be heeded more.
Reports explain the Assemblies
of God church in Ahvaz was holding its Christmas service on Friday
because
Sundays are work days in Muslim countries and Christmas (which was on a
Sunday
in 2011) is not a recognized national holiday, while Friday is a weekend
day.
“Prayer for the persecuted
church is vital,” states Wood. “Whether one prays for God to intervene
supernaturally to place protection around the church, to give the church
supernatural ability to withstand persecution or some combination of the
two,
our prayers in support of our brothers and sisters experiencing intense
persecution
throughout the world is desperately needed.”
AG News
Copyright ©2012 The General Council of the Assemblies of God.
