Waves of Executions and Threats in Iran are Occurring at an Alarming Rate

Despite this, Iranians are coming to Christ!

My experience is not unique. The Islamic Government of Iran killed my 16-year-old brother. In Iran, under an authoritarian regime’s oppressive shadow, young people are losing their lives—on the streets and in the jails. The Islamic Republic of Iran has long ranked among the world’s top executioners. Amidst So much political unrest, many Iranians desperate for freedom, truth, and solace are moving away from Islam, turning instead toward new beliefs, including the Gospel.

This critical moment calls for us, as Christ-followers, to reach out with open hearts to those yearning for change. The urgency for compassionate action has never been greater.

Let me share the tragic story of Nooshin, a young woman in Iran who faced such cruelty at the hands of the Islamic Government of Iran. The government took the lives of five of her siblings. As a young individual who endured this, her testimony is a prime example of why and how many people are leaving Islam and are coming to Christ.

“I was there when they brutally killed my 20-year-old sister, Nazi, before my eyes. On that fateful day, my mother, sister, and I were on the streets protesting and standing up for women’s rights when the Basijis (revolutionary guards) opened fire on the crowd. The last image etched in my memory was my sister’s lifeless and bloodied body and my mother’s anguished cries. The next recollection was waking up in a hospital, an IV connected to my arm, unable to comprehend the loss of my sister. We were a family of 6 children. In the previous years, my 3 older sisters and a brother all had been killed and executed by the Islamic Government of Iran because they were against the Islamic regime and standing for women’s rights and freedom. Now, they have killed my only living sister.

Devastated by the deaths of five out of six children, my parents and I plunged into deep despair. I was determined to avenge my siblings. My parents, fearing the loss of me as their last child, compelled me to marry at the age of 20 against my will.

My husband wanted a child, and he forced me to have one right after marriage. During that year, my mother died of unbearable grief. After her death, I felt even more lonely. My husband was an addict and physically abused me and beat me almost daily. I did not see a way out except suicide. As a result, I attempted suicide three times, but God did not let me die. One day, I cried out to God and said ‘God, I know you are loving and kind. I have nobody in life but you. Please save me and my son from this situation.’

A week later, God brought somebody into my life. I told her about my suicide attempts. I told her “I want to leave Iran. I have relatives in Holland, but my husband will never let me do that” (Note: a woman in Iran cannot have a passport without a written permission from her husband). She offered a lifeline, a way for my son and me to cross borders and reach Holland without a passport. I accepted.

In the next 6 months, I was a refugee crossing some countries illegally to get to Holland. One day, when I was in Greece, tired and broke, I walked on the streets with my son. Suddenly, I saw a church in front of me. We entered it. I felt God’s presence there. I cried out ‘Jesus, I am alone here. I have nobody to help me. Please save me.’ A peace immediately came upon me.

The very next day, I ran into a Christian woman who told us about Christ and that He wants to save me. My son and I prayed to have Jesus in our lives. We surrendered our lives to Him and asked Him to save us. The next day, miracles started happening: doors opened for us, and in a matter of days we were in Holland and had already been accepted legally as refugees.

We started going to an Iranian Church near us which was planted by Iran Alive Ministries. I started taking classes and serving the Lord there right away. Later I met my current husband there. We married and started serving as pastors of Church 7 (Iran Alive’s global church) online churches.

God, by His grace, enabled me to forgive those who killed my five siblings and pray for them. With a heart to serve the brokenhearted and oppressed women of Iran, I underwent training at University 7 (Iran Alive’s training school) to share the Good News and bring healing. As I was saved and transformed, I now want to help others experience salvation and transformation as well.”

My dear friends, Nooshin’s story is my story and the story of several million families in Iran. Did you know that Iran is the number one country for executions per capita in the world? They are averaging two executions per day this year. In 1988, the government executed over 12,000 prisoners in one week without any trial. In the last few years, in addition to official executions, thousands of people –mostly young people and even kids—have been killed on the streets of Iran.

As a consequence, since the tyrannical government came to power in 1979, there isn’t a single family in Iran that hasn’t been affected by the tragedy, with at least one member having been killed by the authorities. It’s one of the biggest reasons that the people of Iran have been questioning Islam and realizing that the problem doesn’t lie in the government but within Islam itself. Iranians have discovered how violence is encouraged and even commanded in the Quran and how Prophet Mohammad spread Islam by violence. This revelation is the reason for Iran having the fastest evangelical population in the world.

Our loving and gracious God has used the brutality, violence, injustice, and executions done by the Iranian Government in the last 45 years, to open the eyes of millions of Iranians to the fallacy of Islam and the truth of the Gospel.

Young Iranians are open and eager for the Gospel, and this excites us! We’re excited to announce we are launching a groundbreaking initiative – NextGen 2024, a digital strategy aimed at leveraging the power of social media to connect with this dynamic generation. This represents a pivotal opportunity to spread hope and inspire change, but we can’t do it alone.

I’m going to humbly and honestly say that we need you.
Your prayer encourages us.
When you share a social media post, it amplifies what God is doing in Iran.
And when you give, the NextGen 2024 vision becomes a reality.

I’m asking you to join us in this mission to disciple and engage young hearts across Iran. Your support and involvement will help make this vision a reality, as we work together to share the power of the Gospel with a generation ready for change.

Join us in our pivotal mission to connect with the NextGen in Iran in 2024. This year, we are setting an ambitious goal to raise $250,000. These funds are crucial for the launch of a media outreach initiative, specifically designed to resonate with the young hearts and minds across Iran. Our vision extends beyond traditional methods;

we are committed to creating special media content that speaks directly to their experiences and aspirations. Moreover, we’re excited about developing innovative discipleship materials tailored specifically for them.

You have stood with us over the years—and I am very grateful for that. Without you we could not have the impact which we have had. Would you pray and ask the Lord what He wants you to  do about being a part of making history in Iran by reaching the Next Gen? I look forward to hearing from you.

All From Him, Through Him, and For Him,

Dr. Hormoz Shariat
President/Founder
Iran Alive Ministries