“This story is a microcosm of a world of injustice and wrong that is perpetrated against the girls and women of my nation.” As we mark one year since the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in Iran, SAT-7 presents the true story of an Iranian woman that highlights the mistreatment and suffering of women and girls in the country.

A year ago this week, a 22-year-old Iranian woman left her hometown in the west of Iran to go shopping with some relatives in the country’s capital, Tehran. She never came home. This is, of course, Mahsa Amini’s story, and her death will be forever remembered by the people of Iran.

The New Testament tells us that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12, NIV). These words can be surprising, or even frightening, to Western ears. Yet for many believers in the Middle East, these words are their reality. How are God’s people supposed to respond to persecution?

A new SAT-7 PARS initiative, weekly Bible teaching sessions hosted on Zoom, are proving invaluable to individuals who struggle to find biblical community or discipleship elsewhere. “I am really grateful for the excellent teaching sessions, which have refreshed me and given me new strength… You don’t know how much you have blessed and encouraged me,” shares Rebecca, an attendee from Iran.

Middle Eastern families are emigrating in large numbers. The reasons are different for each family: some are forced out of their home countries by persecution or conflict, while others are pulled to new locations by better social and economic opportunities. What is common among them, though, is the struggle to integrate into their new surroundings.

It can be hard to understand exactly what it means and how it feels for Middle Eastern families who are forced to relocate. There is no substitute for hearing first-hand accounts, of course, which is why we have compiled the stories of some SAT-7 PARS viewers who have emigrated. We hope these testimonies will inform your prayers, strengthen your faith, and increase your compassion for migrants.

SAT-7 PARS presenter Rozita Hovsepian comes from a Christian family that has long played a prominent part in the growth of the Iranian Church. She tells us about the family life that shaped her, about the loss of her uncle, and about her calling to share God’s Word with women in Iran through SAT-7 PARS program New Identity.

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.