The Martyrs of the Iranian Church: The ultimate price

Eight Christian leaders have been murdered in Iran since 1979 because of their witness. Their martyrdoms underline the need to pray against the Islamic law of apostasy that demands the death sentence for any male apostate from Islam, and life imprisonment for women. Most members of the growing house churches are threatened by this law.

	Rev. Arastoo Sayyah • Apostate from Islam • Priest Anglican Church, Shiraz • Throat cut February 1980 • Murderers unknown		Bahram Dehqani • Son of Anglican ‘apostate’ bishop • Shot dead May 1980 • Murderers unknown
	Rev. Hussein Soodmand • Apostate from Islam • Assemblies of God Pastor, Mashad • Hanged in prison December 1990		Bishop Haik Hovsepian-Mehr • Campaigner for religious freedom • Superintendent AOG Churches • Stabbed to death January 1994 • Murderers unknown
	Rev. Tateos Michaelian • Campaigner for religious freedom • Pastor Presbyterian Church, Tehran • Shot dead June 1994 • Murderers unknown		Mehdi Dibaj • Apostate from Islam • Evangelist • Shot dead June 1994 • Murderers unknown
	Mohammad Yusefi • Apostate from Islam • Pastor of Sari churches • Hanged in forest September 1996 • Murderers unknown		Ghorban Tourani • Apostate from Islam • House Church leader • Stabbed to death November 2005 • Murderers unknown