Published on: 9 November 2023
BACKGROUND SUMMARY
On the same day that Pastor Joseph Shahbazian was released from prison, Pastor Anooshavan Avedian, 61 years old, was summoned to begin serving his 10-year sentence in Evin Prison, Tehran.
Pastor Avedian was initially arrested a little over three years ago at his home where a group of 18 Christians had gathered together for a house church service. At that time, thirty agents raided his home, confiscated the Bibles and telephones of all present at the meeting, and detained Pastor Avedian and several others, including Christian converts Abbas Soori and Maryam Mohammadi. The three were temporarily released on bail.
Many of the other Christians present at the house church meeting were interrogated and made to sign documents stating that, once released, they would no longer attend house-church meetings or have further contact with Christians.
TIMELINE
August 21, 2020: Arrested.
September 23, 2020: Released on bail.
April 10, 2022: Summoned to the 26th Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to face charges of “propaganda activitycontrary to the holy religion of Islam” and “acting against the country’s security through the organisation and leadership of an Evangelical Christian house-church.”
April 11, 2022: Sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 years’ deprivation of social rights after release.
May 29, 2022: Appeal court upheld sentence.
September 2023: Began serving 10-year sentence.
PRAYER NEEDS
It is a well-known fact that prisoners undergo extreme suffering and torment at the hands of guards while imprisoned at Evin Prison.
Therefore, pray that the Lord protects Pastor Avedian’s life and grants him the faith and courage to be a light in a very dark place.
Pray that Pastor Avedian’s sentence will be appealed successfully and that he returns home soon to his family.
TAKE ACTION – Write a letter
Please encourage Pastor Avedian as he begins his 10-year sentence in prison. We urge you to write letters of encouragement and hope.
Letters can be sent to: (view Sample Letters here)
Prisoner, Anooshavan Avedian
Evin Prison, Section 4
Tehran Province, District 2
Tehran, Iran
Be sure to sign your letter with your first name only. (Please read our Prayer & Action Useful Tips to familiarize yourself with important safety measures when corresponding with persecuted Christians in foreign countries.)
Address the envelope as follows:
TAKE ACTION – Advocate on behalf of the prisoner
We have a strong advocate in the US Commission on International Religious Freedom in Washington D.C. Write to the USCIRF today and encourage their diplomatic efforts on behalf of Iranian Pastor Anooshavan Avedian and others like him who have been imprisoned in Iran for the sake of their faith in Jesus Christ.
Send your letter to: (view Sample Letters here)
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom
Att: Chair Rabbi Abraham Cooper
732 N. Capitol Street, N.W., Suite A714,
Washington, D.C. 20401
