Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Sept 16, 2009 17:57:36 GMT -5
Beloved brothers and sisters,
On March 5, your sisters Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad and Maryam Rustampoor were arrested by Iranian security forces and labeled "anti-government activists," according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). Thirty year-old Marzieh and 27-year-old Maryam are being held at Evin Prison, which is notorious for treating women badly. "Both women are allowed just a one-minute telephone call everyday to their immediate families. Both are unwell and in need of urgent medical attention," FCNN reported. During their last call on March 28, Mazieh said that she was suffering from an infection and high fever. She said, "I am dying." Marzieh and Maryam's apartment was searched and their belongings were confiscated. "Their only crime is that they are committed Christians who follow the teachings of Jesus," FCNN added. "They are being unfairly labeled as 'anti government activists' because of the hostility of the government towards practicing Christians." The women have reportedly been interrogated numerous times and were held in three different police detention centers before being sent to Evin Prison. FCNN reported an exorbitant bail amount of US$ 400,000 has been set even though Marzieh and Maryam's families have been told on numerous occasions that a judge is not available to discuss the case. Marzieh and Maryam's arrest is the latest incident highlighting increased government intimidation of Christians in Iran. Believers are subjected to surveillance, arrests, imprisonment, and sometimes torture. Meanwhile on Aug. 8, Marzieh and Maryam were summoned to an Iranian court and ordered to deny their faith verbally and in a written statement. Praise God, they stood firm and replied, "We love Jesus. We will not deny our faith." They have been sent back to Evin prison. 
Your sister Asia Bibi, a 37-year-old Pakistani woman from the village of Ittanwali, was arrested by police on Friday, June 19, and faces possible blasphemy charges. Asia is the wife of 50-year-old Ashiq Masih, and their family is one of only three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families. Many of the local women work on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees, including Asia. During their work many of the Muslim women have pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam. In June, the pressure became especially strong. On Friday, June 19, there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith, with the Muslim women telling Asia about Islam. Asia responded by telling them about her faith in Christ. Asia told the Muslim women Christ had died on the cross for our sins, then asked them what Mohammed had done for them, according to VOM sources. She told them Jesus is alive, but Mohammed is dead. “Our Christ is the true prophet of God,” she reportedly told them, “and yours is not true.” Upon hearing this response the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia Bibi. Then some men came and took her and locked her in a room. They announced from mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey. Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. She is currently being held at the police station in Nankana city. Christians there urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but police claimed that they must go forward due to pressure from local Muslim leaders._______________________________________
Write to our sisters Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad and Maryam Rustampoor (in separate letters) at:
Evin Prison
Saadat Abad
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Write to our sister Asia Bibi at:
District Jail
Sheikhupura
Junjab
When writing a letter, NEVER mention the name of the source of your information or the name of any organization. It is not dangerous for a prisoner to receive letters from individuals, but if an organization is mentioned they may be accused of links with 'foreign organizations' and receive harsher sentences. Also, please do not state ANYTHING negative about their government. For the latest information, including letter writing tools and helps, please visit www.PrisonerAlert.com.
PLEASE remember the call to us from the Scriptures to "be bound" together with our brothers and sisters who are in bondage for the Faith!! I encourage you to visit Voice of the Martyrs website, which provides spiritual support to persecuted Christians around the world, and sign up with their free BE A VOICE alert program, which will email up with alerts of persecuted Christians for you to pray for!!!
www.be-a-voice.net
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Jim Cunningham
King James Bible Ministries
www.GayChristianSurvivors.com