RASHT, Iran — An underground Christian was flogged in Iran and the pastor of a legally recognized church has fled the country.
Mohammad Reza (Youhan) Omidi received 80 lashes Oct. 14 for drinking communion wine. Alcohol is forbidden for Muslims in Iran, which doesn’t recognize conversion from Islam to Christianity.
Omidi was flogged for the same thing in 2013. Fellow house church members Mohammad Ali (Yasser) Mossayebzadeh and Zaman (Saheb) Fadaee also have been sentenced to flogging.
In addition, Omidi was imprisoned two years for house church activities deemed “acting against national security,” followed by two years of internal exile.
In late summer, Victor Bet-Tamraz, 66, pastor of a legally recognized church, and wife Shamiram Issavi, 64, fled Iran after his appeal was rejected and her sentence was to begin. He had received 10 years for talking to Muslims about Christ; his wife received 5 years for house church activities.
Iran is No. 9 on Open Doors’ 2020 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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