irani@brahms.udel.edu (Jennifer Irani) (05/03/91)
The following are news briefs of the persecuted church around the world taken from the Open Doors newsletter (April). May we continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. IRAN--LEADING PASTOR EXECUTED One of this country's leading Protestant pastors was hanged as part of what is believed to be a new wave of repression directed against the small Christian community here. The 55-year-old Hossein Soodmand, a Muslim convert, was reportedly executed after two months of imprisonment and torture. Hea had been conducting private meetings in the city of Mashad after the closure of his church. It is unclear why the pastor was arrested after some 24 years of ministry. ALBANIA--PRIEST APPEALS FOR CALM The emergence of opposition political parties in Albania has placed the international spotlight on one of its leaders, a priest, who was recently released after nearly 25 years in prison. Following violent street protests in four cities, Father Simon Jubani spoke on national radio in an unprecedented public appeal for non-violence. In November, Jubani celebrated the first legal Mass in Albania in 23 years. Forty thousand people attended! EGYPT--CHRISTIAN CONVERTS RE-ARRESTED The Interior Ministry of Egypt ordered the rearrest of three Muslim converts to Christianity who had already endured three months of prison and reported torture for their faith. According to Amnesty International, the prisoners appeared in court suffering from hunger and the effects of torture, including electric shocks. Since their conviction is unlikely, local sources beleive they are being punished in detention instead.