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?

While ethnic Armenian and Assyrian Christians are protected by law, they are still treated in both law and practice as second- class citizens. Muslim converts to Christianity, whose numbers have risen rapidly in recent years, suffer the brute of persecution from the regime. Four such were arrested on December 12^th, just weeks before Christmas (http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Report-Four-Iranian-converts-to-Christianity-arrested-weeks-before-Christmas-518246 ) and two others arrested back in July were scheduled to have court hearings on December 28^th, though no further information is available at this time (https://meconcern.org/2017/12/22/iran-arrested-christians-in-shiraz-face-court-hearing/), presumably due to the unexpected rise of protests.

Prayer Points:

• Pray for encouragement for Christians in Iran, especially those who are in prison for Jesus.

• Pray for many protesters to meet Jesus, the true source of freedom as John 8:31-32 says.

• Pray for the calming of violence and a fair resolution of the causal issues such as the economy.

• Pray for the training of many more leaders to meet the need of the rapidly growing Church.
• Pray for a government that follows the principles of Micah 6:8 to be established in this land.
• Pray for the many minorities in Iran – they include some of the largest, least-reached groups.

Prayer:

 O Lord we lift up the situation in Iran today before You. We ask for restraint by protesters and police in handling the delicate situation in this country. We pray that young Iranians, weary of religion due to nearly forty years of theocratic rule, will turn to You, the true source of hope and freedom. May many protesters meet Your Son in dreams and visions at this time as local believers reach out in love to them. We pray for strength for the many Christians behind bars in Iran right now, that they may feel Your presence and have boldness to share You. We pray for a just government that will lead Iran in righteousness in the future. Amen.