Iran 30 Discover, Pray, Transform » INFLUENTIAL INSTITUTIONS

Stoning, who is without sin to cast the firs one?

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:31:53 +0000

As the world erupted in protest over the imminent stoning of Sakineh Ashtiani, the authorities announced it would not go ahead with the ordeal. This shows there are serious reservations among the senior ranks in the judiciary and across the government regarding this form of punishment. Given the high standards of education in Iran and the sense all Iranians carry of being stewards of one of the oldest civilisations in the world, this is not surprising. Knowing it was their ancestors who gave the world its first charter of human rights, and their poets have epitomised sensible moral values, it cannot be easy to then authorise a woman to be buried in a hole and hit with large stones.

As the authorities consider the important matter of how to respond to adultery, it is good for us all to listen to Jesus. He certainly did not condone this sin, but spoke out against it strongly, warning people of hell if they chose to walk the road of licentiousness. However when the religious authorities of his day dragged before him a woman caught red handed and asked if she should be stoned, his famous reply still stands: ‘Whoever is without sin let him cast the first stone’. And when the accusers had left, he did not condemn her, but said, ‘Go and sin no more.’ It is good influential institutions speak out against immorality, but it is also good that they learn to say, ‘Go and sin no more’.

Pray for

Wisdom for judicial authorities when dealing with these sort of cases
Many like Sakineh Ashtiani to experience the forgiveness of Christ
For Jesus’ attitude towards stoning to be better known

Azad University, trouble at the top

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:16:39 +0000

Iran’s universities compete with the best and none more so than the prestigious Islamic Azad University. Founded twenty five years ago for private paying students the university has enjoyed phenomenal growth due to the huge demand for higher education. The university has one and a half million students taught by over 35,000 academics in three hundred campuses in Iran, and five overseas. One of its campuses, the Science and Research Centre is the largest university campus in the Middle East. It is clearly an influential institution, and a very wealthy one.

But there has been some trouble at the top, sparked by a recent attempt by President Ahmadinejad to appoint government trustees onto the governing board, reportedly to lessen the influence of his political rival at the university, the powerful Akbar Rafsanfani. This attempt was blocked by parliament. In response some supporters of the President protested in a manner which, according to the speaker of the parliament, Ali Larijani, was ‘ugly and vindictive’.

Azad University is an important institution for all Iranians, including Christians. It provides higher education at a price middle class Iranians can usually afford. It is important that it remains focused on its calling, education, and does not become a battleground for competing political rivalries. And it is important that Christians, in a wise way, witness to their fellow students, as Azad graduates usually go on to high ranking jobs where their life style and beliefs impact many.

Pray for

The present dispute to calm down
Academic success of all involved with the university
Safety, wisdom, and courage for witnessing Christians

Gaza and aid, urgent resolution needed

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:35:23 +0000

Iran’s leaders are now actively joining the cause to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and have offered military escorts. Christians should be praying that this difficult issue will not turn into a major confrontation. Israel imposed the blockade to deter missile attacks, but many have decided the measures are too harsh and are sending in aid. While it is certainly difficult to provide security for Israel without such a blockade, there is no need for this to escalate to outright fighting between the Israelis and Iranians. And if the Iranians are seen to act too provocatively, then with the nuclear issue still unsettled, there will be pressure on Washington to act. And that could grate the nerves of other great powers, like China, where President Ahmadinejad is visiting this week.

Pray for

Security for Israel; necessary supplies for the people of Gaza
Wisdom for all diplomats involved
On going sensitivity on nuclear issue

Sanctions brewing abroad, difficult anniversary at home

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:39:29 +0000

While severe sanctions against Iran over their nuclear programme are looming ever nearer at the UN, President Ahmadinejad’s government has presented its opponents with a deal to send their uranium to Turkey to ensure it will not be used for weapons. The US and her allies are not happy with the deal, so the sanctions are still on the table. With Iran’s economy already causing social problems (see Society Stressed) the last thing it needs is sanctions. As well as these problems abroad, the government also faces a difficult anniversary at home. On June 12^th it’s one year since the presidential elections that sparked off the largest demonstrations since 1979. Already the authorities are issuing dire warnings to would be protesters. Given that some died in last year’s troubles, thousands were arrested, and at least two protesters have been executed it is likely people will take these warnings seriously. In the midst of this tension it is important the church witnesses to a God who is a ‘very present help in trouble’.

Pray for

Peaceful resolution to nuclear issue, without sanctions or worse
Safety on the streets on June 12^th
Church to be able to share the refuge offered by Christ to many

Sanctions, so what?

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:27:31 +0000

Most of the male diplomats drafting the sanctions against Iran to stop her enriching uranium have not seen friends choked to death by chemical weapons, nor have the female diplomats queued for hours to get a little bit of bread or find they cannot buy soap or paper. The Iranians have: they suffered during the Iran-Iraq war. So their response to the new UN sanctions is– so what? We’ve had worse. But sanctions will cause some suffering, and this will increase the government’s legitimacy to deal with anyone seen to be sympathetic to the West, including Christians. There is an urgent need for diplomats to widen the context and focus on the benefits of Iran and the West working together. This is better for ordinary Iranians, and Christians.

Pray for

Diplomats at UN to be creative and courageous
For both Iran and Israel’s security fears to be assuaged
Christians to be protected if clouds of conflict darken

Whatever the tension, it’s good to talk

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:25:39 +0000

This week President Ahmadinejad is in New York for the five yearly talks on nuclear disarmament. He will not be Hilary Clinton’s favourite foreign dignitary. As well as recently saying that Iran would ‘cut off Israel’s legs’ if Syria were attacked, which did not go down well in Washington, President Ahmadinejad seems to have no intention of meeting the West’s demands for his country to stop enriching uranium. So there will be tension in the room. But with prayer there could be something else: an understanding that it is in nobody’s interest for Iran and the West to go to war. Sitting in their own capitals, thousands of miles apart, it is easy to get things wrong; face to face might be much better.

Pray for:

Nuclear disarmament talks to be successful
More understanding between the West and Iran
For delegates from closed countries to hear the Gospel

The army, very much on show

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:01:11 +0000

April 18^th was Iran’s army day. As well as inspecting thousands of marching troops on the ground, and watching phantom jets in the air, President Ahmadinejad in Tehran and the millions of TV viewers also saw an impressive display of the country’s missile technology, including the latest long range Ghadr (Worthy) weapon. Meanwhile in the Persian Gulf, Iran began five days of military exercises designed to show its ability to keep open – or close – the Straits of Hormoz through which 40% of the world’s oil comes. As rumours of war continue to rumble in the corridors of power around the world, Iran’s armed forces are very much on show for obvious reasons. The regime does not want to be attacked. For Christians it is important to always remember that the 500,000 who make up Iran’s armed forces are ordinary hard working patriotic people who need to hear the Gospel of Christ. The sooner the better if diplomacy over the nuclear issue fails.

Pray for:

Diplomats to persevere
Military personnel to hear the Gospel
Thousands of soldiers to become Christians

The N word, needs intense intercession

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:53:39 +0000

The N word dominates all news about Iran. We live in tense days. To deal with Iran’s nuclear programme the US has said all options are on the table, a clear reference to military action; Europe basically supports the US poistion; and Israel used her national Holocaust day to demand action against Iran. In response Iran has filed a complaint against the US threats with the UN and has ordered a new surface to air missile system from Russia which would be able to intercept air attacks. China remains opaque. This is an intensely fragile and dangerous situation where a wrong move could set off a disaster of untold horror. Intense intercession is needed

Pray for

Wisdom for all negotiators, many meeting in Washington this week
Vigorous rejection of war mongering by leaders
Security concerns of Israel and Iran to be dealt with

Newspapers closed, journalists imprisoned: feels like a mop up operation

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:58:44 +0000

Ever since President Khatami eased up media restrictions in 1997, the press has been a flashpoint between Reformers and Conservatives. Back in 1999 when the closure of the paper ‘Salam’ brought thousands of students onto the streets, it was even a battlefield. Ten years later, with eight papers being closed down since the disputed presidential election, and over sixty journalists in jail, more closures feel like a mop up operation. Last week it was the turn of the country’s most prominent Reformist newspaper, Etemaad which had a circulation of 100,000, along with two weekly magazines, Iran Dokht and Sina, the former edited by Hussein Karroubi, the son in law to the reformist presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi. There were no demonstrations. Students stayed in their classes. Similar to what has happened to Christians, some journalists spent a challenging time in prison and were then released on bail after the courts had secured a massive payment. Such intimidation usually encourages them to keep a low profile. This is what happened to five men arrested in the aftermath of the election and released this week. The bail for one of them was $800,000. According to one media watch-dog, only China now locks up more journalists than Iran. Perhaps Tehran is now looking to Beijing as a model to follow. For lovers of freedom of expression and religion this does not auger well. But Christians should also remember where the largest church on the planet is: China.

Pray for

All journalists suffering unfairly, to have an experience of God
Consciences of officials to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit
Christians to keep on sharing, whatever the external situation, remembering the Gospel is the ‘power of God’.

The importance of being, the Persian Gulf

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:42:52 +0000

The name of that stretch of shallow water separating the south of Iran from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states has always been the Persian Gulf. This is not surprising since Iran has usually been the dominant regional power and indeed Bahrain and those Gulf states used to be a part of the Persian Empire. However in modern times some have started to use another name, anathema to all Iranians and friends of Iran – the Arabian Gulf. The dispute has rumbled on, but now Tehran has decided enough is enough and has announced draconian measures to protect the correct title: any airline using the unrepeatable name will not be allowed to use Iranian airspace. Whether this will work out in practice is another matter, but a point has been rather forcefully made.

This raising of the stakes shows how the present government are determined to show they can be trusted to protect nationalistic sentiment. All Iranian Christians believe the name must be Persian Gulf and so this form of nationalism presents them with no dilemma. It is when you have to prove you are a patriot by subscribing to a particular religion the real problems begin.

Pray for

Politicians to handle nationalistic sentiment with integrity
Good relations between Iran and her Arab neighbours
Christians to be respected as faithful citizens