Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani

"You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and I am God." Isaiah 43:10-12

There are not many times in my life where I feel exasperation and desperation, and yet, those are my feelings when I continue to read the news reels about Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.

Sakineh is an Iranian widowed woman who, four years ago, was convicted of adultery. For that conviction, she has been sentenced to death by stoning, as is customary in this Islamic theocracy. This is not the end of her plight. A month ago, a newspaper in the United Kingdom printed a picture of another Iranian woman, who lives in Sweden, not wearing a head-covering, which is mandated for all women of Iran. However, Iranian officials misidentified the woman in the picture and thought the picture to be that of Sakineh not wearing a head-covering. For this, Sakineh was lashed 99 times in addition to her continued death sentence.

I have heard many stories of the Holy Spirit moving in Islamic culture during the last several years. Revealing Himself to Muslims in visions and dreams, many Muslims have seen Christ without ever knowing some intricate details they envision. CBN produced a short article about the Holy Spirit's work.

Please pray with me for Sakineh, her family, and the people of Iran. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to reveal Himself and that God would make His name known in such a restricted Islamic society where belief in Christ means severe persecution and death. Specifically pray that God would reveal Himself to Sakineh during her imprisonment.

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:18 ESV