Originally published in The Jerusalem Post Geomagnetic fields recorded in 21 archaeological destruction layers throughout Israel reconstructed by Israeli researchers have verified accounts related in the Hebrew Bible of the Egyptian, Aramean, Assyrian and Babylonian military campaigns against the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) […]
Middle East
Iranian pastor unexpectedly freed from prison after eight killed in fire
Originally published in Premier Christian News An Iranian pastor has been released from prison after being pardoned by the Supreme Leader. Arrested alongside three Azerbaijani Christians in 2016, Naser Navard Goltapeh was due to serve 10 years in Evin Prison in Tehran for “acting against national security through forming and […]
First-known religious freedom document over 2 500 years old
Originally published in Persecution.org The Cyrus Cylinder was dedicated to the City of Babylon in 539 BC by its new king, Cyrus of Anshan. The cylinder is made of clay and is 22.86cm wide by 121.82cm tall. While its size is unimpressive, its inscription and the freedoms it granted are […]
ICEJ sponsors third flight in resumed airlift of Ethiopian Jews
Originally published in Charisma News On Tuesday this week, a specially chartered flight arranged by the Jewish Agency For Israel and sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem brought a group of 160 Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel as part of the resumed airlift operation Tzur Yisrael (“Rock of Israel”). This will […]
Iran sentences Christian man to 10 years in prison for hosting house church
Originally published in The Christian Post The Revolutionary Court of Tehran has sentenced an Iranian-Armenian Christian man to 10 years in prison for establishing a house church, which the judge called “propaganda contrary to and disturbing to the holy religion of Islam,” according to reports. Branch 26 of the Revolutionary […]
Couple married 91 years lived through extreme poverty and are still in love
Originally published in Aleteia Zechariah and Shama’a married when they were just 12 and 10 years of age. Both were orphans and it was common practice in their native Yemen for children to marry young so they would remain within their Jewish community. However, life for the youngsters was hard: “We didn’t […]
Iran: nine converts acquitted by Appeal Court
Originally published by Voice of the Martyrs On Monday February 28 a verdict was issued by Branch 34 of Tehran’s Appeal Court overturning the convictions of nine Christian converts from Rasht. The nine – Abdolreza (Matthias) Haghnejad, Khalil Daeghanpour, Hossein Kadivar, Kamal Naamanian, Mohammad Vafadar, Mohammad (Sharooz) Eslamdoust, Babak Hosseinzadeh, […]
Released Iranian pastor rearrested after fortnight
Originally published by Voice of the Martyrs Iranian Christians request prayer for Pastor Abdolreza (Matthias) Haghnejad and his family after he was rearrested to serve a sentence that had been overturned in 2014. Matthias was released from Anzali Prison near Rasht on December 30 after the Iranian Supreme Court ordered […]
Landmark Iranian judgement: going to church does not make Christians ‘enemies of state’
Originally published by Assist News Service Ruling could see 9 Christians released from prison Iran has decided that belonging to a house church does not make Christians ‘enemies of the state’, according to Open Doors UK & Ireland. The charity reports that the country’s Supreme Court has ruled that nine Christian […]
Bennett to Christian Media Summit: Iranian terror is sweeping the region
Originally published in The Times of Israel Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett focused on Iran in a recorded address to the 5th annual Christian Media Summit yesterday, saying Tehran was instigating terror that threatened Israel and other countries. “As the world fights this invisible enemy,” he said, referring to Covid-19, […]