Five Kurdish prisoners have been executed in Iran for being active members of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PEJAK). As the government of Iran struggles to maintain its nuclear program under the promise of new United Nations sanctions, minority and separatist elements in the nation are using terrorist tactics to punctuate their demand for autonomy. The Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PEJAK), affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey and northern Iraq, is seeking nothing short of an independent Kurdish nation.

In February, Iranian forces killed four insurgents near the border with Iraq. One month later, members of the PEJAK killed a prosecutor and three Revolutionary Guards. The five PEJAK men executed recently were sentenced to death for being part of the separatist movement, and for their involvement in several recent bombings. According to one news source, "Tehran claims these uprisings by largely Sunni Muslims against the Shiite-dominated state are funded by western Governments." Kurds responded to the executions by holding the largest labour strike since 2005.

Mir Hossein Mousavi, the opposition leader who protested the outcome of the presidential election of June 2009, said he believes the government's actions will only further fuel public unrest. This could, in turn, intensify crackdowns on groups considered to be threats to national security - including Christians. Untold numbers of Believers are currently detained and imprisoned in Iran, some of them still awaiting court hearings. As recently as May 10, 2010, a pastor was arrested without specific charges.

PRAY FOR:

* an end to the "tooth for tooth" war being waged between the government and opposition groups. Pray for the protection of all groups - but especially Believers who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.

* an immediate end of executions and the persecution of Christian Believers. Pray for the Lord to reveal Himself to key leaders in the Iranian government. Pray for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Khamenei to encounter and receive the living Christ as Saviour and for their lives to be transformed.

* opposition leaders to use diplomacy and non-violent forms of protest to communicate their needs and desires to the government and for the Kurds to not only be provided with their own homeland, but for this largely unreached people group to be drawn to the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray for multitudes of Kurds to put their faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord and for the Lord's plans and purposes for this nation to be fulfilled.

Source: Windows International Network via
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