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?

“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.”

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.

On 2 November, SAT-7’s Persian-language channel SAT-7 PARS launched a new social media initiative, Church4Afghanistan, comprising of a new brand and a live program.

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.

Iranians protesting the killing of Mahsa Amini by Iran’s Hijab Police have captured the attention of people around the world. The sight of young women and men wielding only words against a regime armed and willing to use its might against unarmed citizens is the story of David and Goliath being replayed before our very eyes. But in this modern retelling, David is injured and dying every day.

“My life is not safe. It wasn’t safe when I was in Afghanistan, and it isn’t even now that I am in [another country].” These words from a SAT-7 PARS viewer came in response to an episode of Insiders that explored the importance of press freedom.