Six months have passed since the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, at the hands of the Iranian authorities. Against a backdrop of government oppression and police brutality, passionate protesters in the country continue to call for freedom. As Iranian women and girls seek a brighter future, SAT-7 has been amplifying their stories and prayers to the nation.

“In our community, we agreed that our daughter will marry our neighbour once she’s mature. But when I saw the early marriage clip, and I remembered what happened to me, I gained a little bit of strength to fight for my daughter and stop what happened to me happening to her.”

“When God created us, He gave us the right whether or not to choose Him. The right to choose may not be denied by any government, group, or person” said Mansour Borji, human rights advocate and Advocacy Director of Article 18, speaking on SAT-7 PARS’ New Identity program. Nevertheless, persecution for their faith is a reality for SAT-7 PARS’ viewers, and knowledge of their rights and a Biblical perspective on persecution provided by an expert, can help empower the Iranian Church.

“We can’t openly celebrate Christmas,” explains Setareh* an Iranian woman. “It is forbidden for us to say we are Christians and to speak the name of Jesus as Lord.”

“Since the Taliban takeover, girls in my homeland have been deprived of the most basic freedoms such as education and sport,” shares Mariam*, a SAT-7 PARS viewer from Afghanistan. The challenges of women in Iran and Afghanistan have increased dramatically in the past year, and SAT-7 PARS continues to support and empower them in their desire for change and freedom.

As intense protests continue in Iran, SAT-7 PARS’ Viewer Support team have been witnessing a growing unity among Iranian and Afghan viewers through their prayers of intercession for one another. Persian-speaking viewers are calling on the Lord for freedom, peace, and safety for people across the region.

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Iran’s “morality police” has sparked that nation’s most serious unrest since 2009. Mahsa, an Iranian Kurd on a visit to family in Tehran, was detained for allegedly wearing the hijab incorrectly and days later, on 16 September, died after being hospitalised in a coma.

Christian TV and media network SAT-7 is responding to the continuing nationwide protests and government crackdown in Iran by joining a global two-week campaign of prayer. From Friday 21 October, SAT-7’s Persian language channel, SAT-7 PARS, is devoting the first five minutes of every live programme to prayer for Iran and its people.