Iranian-Armenian pastor Anooshavan Avedian (61) is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in Evin Prison, Tehran. He was arrested along with two Christian converts when around 30 intelligence agents raided a private Christian gathering in Narmak, North Tehran on 21 August 2020.

In April 2022 Judge Iman Afshari, head of the 26th Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, sentenced Anooshavan to 10 years in prison and deprivation of social rights for a further 10 years on a charge of “propaganda contrary to and disturbing to the holy religion of Islam.” The converts arrested alongside Anooshavan were given a range of non-custodial punishments. A request for a retrial was rejected in August 2022.

Anooshavan presented himself to Evin Prison on 18 September 2023.

Please pray that:

The Iranian authorities will rectify the violation of Anooshavan’s rights and liberty and release him,

The Lord will strengthen and encourage Anooshavan and his family,

The Iranian authorities will stop oppressing religious adherents, including Christians and Christian converts, for the peaceful practice of their faith, whether individually or in community.