By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TEHRAN (Worthy News) - Iranian Christians are still mourning Ebrahim Firouzi, a former Muslim who embraced faith in Christ despite facing detention for his Christian activities.
Christians confirmed Thursday that he unexpectedly passed away on February 20 from a heart attack at age 37.
“The Christian man's body was found in his home by his brother, who went to check on the believer after not hearing from him for a few days,” said advocacy group The Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC).
Following his first arrest in January 2011, Ebrahim was held in custody for several months before being conditionally released.
He was detained again in 2013 and sentenced to six years in prison because of his involvement in a house church, Christians said.
“Throughout his time in prison, Ebrahim sought ways to make the Scriptures available to those who were imprisoned with him,” VOMC recalled.
REMOTE REGION
Upon his release in 2019, he was reportedly banished to a remote region of Iran for two additional years.
“During his exile, Ebrahim became a respected member of his new community, where he started his own business and volunteered to serve in local schools,” VOMC told Worthy News.
While paying tribute to the deceased Iranian believer, Mansour Borji from the Article18 rights group said: "Ebrahim did not lose hope, even during all those years in prison. He had an incredible fighting spirit."
VOMC urged believers to pray for Ebrahim’s family members and friends. “While Ebrahim is assuredly now in heaven rejoicing in the wonderful presence of our Saviour, please prayerfully uphold his family members and friends who are now grieving over the sudden loss of their loved one.”
As they mourn “the end of Ebrahim's young earthly life, may they tangibly experience the peace, love and blessed assurance that comes from the ‘Father of mercies and God of all comfort,’” the group said, referring to Bible verse 2 Corinthians 1:3.
His reported suffering highlighted the persecution of Christian converts in Iran, according to Christian human rights activists.
FARSI BIBLE
“If you’re part of a traditional Christian community in Iran, your faith is likely tolerated. But you aren’t allowed to worship or read the Bible in Farsi, Iran’s language, or have any contact with Christians who have converted from Islam,” said advocacy group Open Doors. “If you’re caught supporting converts, you may be sent to prison.”
Conversion from Islam to Christianity is illegal in Iran, with the government viewing conversion as an attempt by the West “to undermine Islam” and the Islamic government of Iran.
“This means that anyone who is discovered to be a member of a house church can be charged with a crime against national security, which can lead to long prison sentences. Anyone arrested or detained can be tortured and abused while in jail,” Open Doors explained in a recent assessment.
Additionally, “Christian converts who left Islam can lose their inheritance, unmarried Christians can be forced into marriage to a Muslim, and married believers may be forced to divorce or face losing their children.”
VOMC said it was crucial to continue to pray for Christians facing persecution in the strict Islamic republic as they “continue serving as lights amid the darkness of this needy world by conveying the hope of the Gospel.”
Christians comprise some 0.7 percent of Iran’s mainly Muslim population of 88.3 million, according to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), but church groups say the actual figure is much higher as the Christian faith continues to spread in Iran.