Iran: April 9, 2016. (PCP) Ebrahim Firouzi, a Christian prisoner in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj in Iran, has appealed for prayer for Christians and churches in his country. On 21st August 2013 Ebrahim was arrested with two friends during a raid by plain-clothed security officers. He had also been detained in 2011 and earlier in 2013 because of his Christian activities. The other two believers were released on bail after several months. On 2nd October 2014 Ebrahim was relocated from Evin Prison in Tehran to the notoriously brutal Rajai Shahr Prison near Karaj. He was due for release on 13th January 2015, but was kept in detention, re-tried on 5th March 2015 and charged with “acting against national security, gathering, and collusion”. At the end of April 2015 Ebrahim was sentenced to five years in prison. He is in a ward with potentially dangerous criminals and last year went on hunger strike to protest against these conditions. In his appeal, Ebrahim noted God's promises to those who remain faithful to him. He emphasised that he wants to stand strong in the face of persecution, but acknowledged that he cannot do this alone and so appealed for prayer. While he longs to be free from prison, he noted that "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." He continued: "Jesus is our example; the Saviour who came among us to be crucified and save us. We sometimes have to sacrifice our freedom to live in God’s love, so I can’t think only about myself when there are so many believers suffering persecution. My freedom and getting out of prison cannot be my only purpose. We think especially about the suffering of new believers. If my being in prison stirs the international community to work to prevent such future persecution of new believers, then my choice is to remain in prison. "I ask you to pray for the reopening of the churches in Iran that the government has forcibly closed - let the sound of worship and praise be heard in the buildings again! Pray for me to be a good example before the other prisoners." Source: Middle East Concern