The Islamic Republic of Iran, a fair-sized country located between the Caspian Sea and the   Persian Gulf is basically a central desert ringed by mountains. Its population is 81 million based on 2017 estimates; around half are Persian, a fifth Azeri, and the rest belong to various minorities. Shiite Islam is the official religion, and (at least on paper) that of 89% of the populace. Another 5-8% is Sunni Muslims, mostly from minorities. Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism are officially recognized minorities but closely monitored. Apostasy is not permitted.

The current wave of protests in Iran began on December 28^th in the eastern city of Mashhad, and spread to Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and other cities in the largest public expression of discontent in the land since the 2009 election protests. At least fifty persons have been arrested in Mashhad alone, says one source (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/protests-iran-171231083620343.html ). In another city, “protesters shouted slogans against Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei” and elsewhere they decried Iranian involvement in regional conflicts such as Syria and Yemen (http://www.newsweek.com/iran-anti-regime-protests-erupt-across-country-protesters-chant-death-dictator-764912).

Twitter accounts report that protesters have set fire to police and security offices. Another source says that officials were blocking access to social media “to maintain peace” and make it difficult for anti-government protesters to connect with one another (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-protests-rally-latest-social-media-blocked-instagram-telegram-mobile-updates-a8135626.html). Although the protests were, at least initially, about economic issues like rising food prices amid deep poverty, it quickly deepened to denounce corruption among the elite and “We don’t want an Islamic Republic!” Some have decried government concern about issues like Lebanon and Gaza while overlooking domestic issues (https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranians-target-tehrans-support-for-palestinians-amid-massive-protests/).

Authorities were forced to cancel schools and trains due to the uproar (http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Iranians-protest-escalates-government-cancels-schools-and-trains-521411 ). So far, reports suggest that a least two protesters were killed in Khuzestan province on December 31^st and two more in Doud (http://www.alef.ir/news/3961011140.html , Persian). The IRGC has stated that the organization will closely observe “future acts of sedition” and “in supporting the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, will allow no harm to be inflicted upon the country”. At least one ex-minister in the regime has blamed the US and Saudi regimes for seeking to “misuse” tensions in the country for their own ends (http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/419873/Ex-diplomat-U-S-Saudis-seeking-to-misuse-civil-protests-in ).

Meanwhile what does all this have to do with the Church?

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Uganda is a small country in eastern Africa of around 40 million people, with a constitution that guarantees freedom of religion, including right of conversion. Despite this, Christians are the subjects of attacks by their Muslim neighbors in the eastern third of the land, especially if they are converts from Islam.

Most recently, a 24-year old, woman named Sandra Summaya, converted to Christianity at church on Christmas Day 2016. When she shared it with her brother he got angry and insulted her. It greatly hurt her inside.

A week later, January 1st 2017, her family had gathered for a meal. Sandra’s uncle asked if she believed her Isa (Jesus) would protect her should she take poison. When she affirmed so, she was forced to take rat poison at around midnight, which she dared not refuse after what she had said.

She became seriously ill, including stomach pains and vomiting. She was dragged next to a bush, tied to a tree, and left to die.

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