For many in Lebanon, the violence that broke out on 14 October brought back memories of the civil war. A special episode of SAT-7’s program You Are Not Alone, broadcast just two days after the clashes, shared survivors’ voices, offered hope, called for peace, and raised prayer as life becomes increasingly difficult in Lebanon.

“Is this life? Is this humanity?” pleads Armineh*, a young Afghan girl, in a heartbreaking open letter sent to SAT-7 PARS. Living under the Taliban, Armineh speaks of how “this is the end of all my dreams” and calls for the world to hear her voice.

Zahra M. an Iranian journalist and social activist who recently travelled to Afghanistan was interviewed live on SAT-7 PARS program Insiders to raise awareness of the current situation of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban. Zahra’s words and our viewer’s testimonies are a stark reminder of the rights and freedom of girls being severely restricted in the country while the world marks International Day of the Girl Child today, on 11 October.

“Many people in Persian countries live with trauma”, says Annahita Parsan, the presenter of a new biblical counselling series on SAT-7 PARS. Domestic, emotional, and sexual abuse and negative attitudes, leave deep scars. But the liberating message of her series, Detox for the Soul, is that no one with these emotional and mental scars is a lost cause: they can be set free.

As Algeria reels from devastating fires, isolated believers are struggling without support as churches remain closed. But, says SAT-7 producer and presenter Samia Kessai, “people are searching for God and contacting us”, and SAT-7 is responding with programming and a new North African social media platform that shares the hope of Christ.

There is an increasing thirst for Christ in the Middle East and North Africa, and this is evident in the rising correspondence on SAT-7’s social media. Questions about the Christian faith, requests for support with sensitive issues, and even queries about parenting are steadily streaming in since the relaunch of SAT-7’s Arabic social media pages, including several new brands to cater to viewers’ needs.