They hate you because of me - This is an update to several postings back in September about Pastor Hamid Pourmand in Iran.
Pastor Pourmand was reborn into Christianity from Islam several years ago. He is the minister of an Assemblies of God church. On September 9th he was arrested with a number of other Christians who have since been released. However, Pastor Pourmand is still being held as a prisoner at an undisclosed location.
Reverend Pourmand is 47-year-old, married with two children, and a colonel in the Iranian army based in the city of Bandar-i Bushehr (380 km south of Tehran). If brought before a court martial he could face espionage charges and sentenced to death. Although laws instituted after the Islamic revolution prohibit non-Muslims from holding officer rank, he continued to serve as an officer in the Iranian army. “Hamid did not keep his conversion secret,” a friend told Compass, “but he is an honest man and people liked and respected him.”
Pourmand was arrested along with another 86 Protestant leaders; 76 were released the evening of their arrest whilst another 9 were let go three days later. But Pourmand was the only one who is still in prison. According to eyewitnesses, Iranian police had detailed information about each one of them.
Pastor Pourmand was allowed to talk to his wife briefly by phone but that appears to be all the contact he has been allowed to have at this time.
Say a prayer for this pastor and his wife. Under the law in Iran, his Christianity carries with it a death sentence because the government considers it apostasy.
Related Post(s):
Christian Persecution Headlines for Today.Update: 10 Christian Leaders Released in Iran.
