Concerns are rising over news that at least 12 prisoners in Ward 8 of Evin Prison in Tehran, tested positive for COVID-19.
Christian convert Yasser Mossayebzadeh is one of the 12 and is now reportedly gravely ill. Two other converts, Saheb Fadaee and Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, did not test positive but are beginning to show symptoms. Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani and convert Youhan Omidi are at risk.
Prisoners in Ward 8 recently staged a sit-in to protest the poor living conditions that are putting them at risk of the virus. Rooms are overcrowded with few opportunities for social distancing, and the prison does not give the prisoners quality access to hygiene. It is estimated that there are at least another 10 Christian prisoners of conscience being held in other wards with no reports of their health status.
As the pandemic reached its peak in March, Iran released around 100,000 prisoners, six of them Christian, as authorities began to fear the spread of the virus within the overcrowded prisons. Despite this, the prisons are now overcrowded once more and there are even more Christian prisoners of conscience than there were before the pandemic.
Source: International Christian Concern
- Ask the Lord to protect these prisoners from the virus. Pray the authorities will treat them with mercy and compassion.
- Pray the Lord will use this time of uncertainty and suffering to draw them closer to Him.
- Pray that believers in prison will have an opportunity to witness to the certainty they have in God, to those around them who do not know Him.
Post your prayer in the comments below.
Praying and thinking of these precious men.
Blessed Lord Jesus, we give thanks for Yasser Mossayebzadeh (reportedly gravely ill) Saheb Fadaee, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani and Youhan Omidi (who are are at risk of COVID-19 infection) among the many other Christians in Erin Prison because of their faith. Thank you for their faith in Christ and example to other Iranian believers. Lord, have mercy and protect them from the Virus and it’s side effects. Draw them closer to yourself and help them to grow in their knowledge of you. Give them opportunity even while in prison to connect and care and communicate with their captors and may your Gospel make great progress in the nation of Iran.