More than 30 Christians were arrested in recent weeks in Iran, according to an August 11 report from Compass Direct. In the city of Rasht, eight Christians were detained after two separate rounds of arrests on July 29 and 30. Seven of the believers have since been released. On July 31, police raided a meeting of approximately 24 Christian converts from Islam in the village of Amameh, north of Tehran. Officials confiscated books, CDs, computers, cell phones and passports and arrested all of the believers present. While most were released the same evening, seven of them -- Shahnam Behjatollah (34) and six others identified only as Shaheen, Maryam, Mobinaa, Mehdi, Ashraf and Nariman -- were still being held in an unknown location at last report. Police have questioned their families and have told them to prepare to pay bail. The detained believers have not been allowed contact with their family members. On August 7, some of the same Christians who had been earlier detained and released were re-arrested and interrogated by authorities.

Pray for the release of the eight who remain detained. Pray that Christians facing trials in Iran will come into a deeper relationship with Christ as they embrace the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:7-10).

Learn more about the persecution of Iran's Christians by visiting the Iran Country Report.