Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: July 4, 2020
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
This scripture has underpinned so many of our staff prayer times at CSW. It was our late National Director’s favourite verse, and he’d often quote it to remind us of the power of God at work through our prayers. In fact if you’ve visited our office, you’ll know it takes pride of place on the wall as you walk through the door! It’s this passage we turn to as we thank you for your fervent prayers for two church leaders over recent months.
Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya and his wife Junu have been so grateful for your prayers during his imprisonment. Pastor Keshav was arrested and detained on charges of outraging religious feelings’ and ‘attempting to convert’. He was originally arrested after a video of him saying that the coronavirus could be healed through Christian prayer was uploaded on YouTube. The pastor denies uploading the video. Pastor Keshav had been in detention – in a remote location far from his home in Dolpa – since May. We’ve learned that he was released on bail on 30 June, and the case against him is ongoing.
You’ll also recall that we’ve been awaiting the appeal verdict for Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, Saheb Fadaie, Mohammadreza Omidi (Yuhan) and Yasser Mossayebzadeh, who were convicted on charges of ‘acting against national security’ in 2017, and imprisoned in 2018. All four men were serving ten-year sentences, and unlike a number of other Christian prisoners, had not been offered temporary furlough amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in Iran’s prison system.
On appeal Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, and Deacon Saheb Fadaie, each received six-year sentences. Mohammadreza Omidi (Yuhan), received a sentence of two years, but is expected to be released later this month (July), and we are awaiting news on Yasser Mossayebzadeh. Although we thank God that these sentences have been reduced, we ask you to continue to pray fervently for them and for the possibility of further appeal.
In summary, please pray:
- That the unfounded charges levelled against Pastor Keshav would be dropped and the case against him dismissed.
- That the sentences of Pastor Nadarkhani, Saheb Fadaie, Mohammadreza Omidi and Yasser Mossayebzadeh would be dismissed, including the additional two years of internal exile given to the pastor and Mr Omidi, and that they would be swiftly and unconditionally released.
- For wisdom, insight and discernment for the lawyers representing all of these cases as they work to secure their clients’ freedom.