Christians in Muslim countries

Christians in Muslim countries are often especially vulnerable to arrest, torture or worse, simply because of their faith. Converts from Islam are particularly at risk of accusations of apostasy (leaving a religion: in this case, Islam), which in some countries carries the death penalty.

This week, please:

• Pray for Christians in Iran who continue to face harassment, arrest and imprisonment for practising their faith, despite President Rouhani’s assurances of equality for religious minorities;
• Pray for the wives and children of Iranian Christian pastors who are imprisoned for their faith, leaving the families in a precarious financial situation;
• Pray for the estimated 450,000 Christians who have been forced to flee Syria, now living as refugees in neighbouring countries;
• Ask God to strengthen Christians who have remained in Syria, along with other religious and ethnic minorities, and who are vulnerable to attack;
• Pray for the families of the Christian victims of the murders in Malatya, Turkey in 2007, in light of recent changes in Turkish law which saw five of the suspects being released on bail;
• Pray for safety for Meriam, the Sudanese Christian who was acquitted in June after being sentenced to death and flogging for alleged apostasy and adultery;
• Pray for a peaceful post-election period in Egypt, and that the newly-elected leaders will work for the good of all Egypt’s citizens, especially religious minorities.