Saturday, May 27, 2006

Iranian Arrested for Bible Study

This is what it means to live in a totalitarian regime:

According to a May 22 report from Compass Direct, Ali Kaboli (51) converted to Christianity as a teenager andhas been serving in lay ministry for decades. Over the years, he has been repeatedly arrested, threatened and interrogated and has faced travel
restrictions and an arson attack on his home but has remained undeterred.

On May 2, secret police arrested him in his carpentry workship in Gorgan. With the exception of one brief telephone call, he has been refused contact with any visitors since his arrest. Since his arrest, several of the Christians who attended Bible studies in his home have been questioned by police. Though he has not yet been charged, Kaboli faces the possibility of prosecution for holding "illegal" religious meetings in his home. He could also be charged under Iran's apostasy laws for converting from Islam, even though it took place thirty-three years ago. Kaboli is married with five grown children.
This Memorial Day weekend we should thank God that we have men and women who will fight for our freedom to worship God and we should pray for those in countries who cannot worship God freely. Please pray that this man is released from prison.