Pastor detained in Turkey faces deportation to Iran

27 January 2025

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Iranian pastor Mojtaba Ahmadi, 57, who has been detained in Turkey on contested immigration charges, faces the imminent threat of deportation to Iran.

There are concerns that Pastor Mojtaba could be subjected to further imprisonment or even death.

His arrest underscores the growing persecution of Christians in Turkey.

Pastor Mojtaba Ahmadi is at risk of deportation from Turkey to Iran, where he has previously suffered imprisonment and torture [Image credit: Article 18]

On 29 January 2024 he was arrested in western Turkey on unclear immigration charges. His identification was confiscated, and he has since been held in an immigration detention centre with little information provided regarding the official charges against him.

Pastor Mojtaba, a convert from Islam, fled persecution in Iran in 2013 to escape impending imprisonment after an arrest warrant had been issued.

He was originally arrested in Iran in 2010 after participating in a private Bible study with other Christians. During his detention, he endured 170 days of solitary confinement and was subjected to both physical and psychological torture. After his family provided bail for his temporary release, he was convicted of “spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran” and sentenced to prison for three years.

In Turkey he has faced repeated difficulties in securing legal protection, as Turkish authorities have failed to grant him official refugee status or even conduct an interview regarding his case.

Pastor Mojtaba’s detention is part of a broader pattern of rising hostility toward Christians in Turkey. The Turkish government has consistently restricted the Protestant Christian community, refusing to recognise them officially or allow them to practise their faith freely.

Since 2019, Turkey has deported foreign pastors, denied residence permits and barred expatriate Christians from re-entering the country.

Please ask the Lord for strength, protection and the restoration of Pastor Mojtaba’s freedom. Ask God to bring justice, peace and safety to all who suffering persecution for their faith in Turkey.

Related Countries

Iran, Turkey