Iran--Crackdown on Satellite Dishes Mohabat News Luke 12:26 Police officers from Iran's security forces are now authorized to enter private residences to confiscate satellite dishes, and Tehran's police commissioner declared that authorities intend to seize every dish. Police already confiscate satellite dishes installed in plain view, but with a judicial warrant they can now enter homes to search for hidden dishes. Hossein Sajedinia, Tehran's police chief, said that although the plan is not meant to be carried out with hostility, nothing will prevent its completion. Eyewitnesses have already reported seeing security officers in various cities enter homes without warrants and seize satellite dishes, according to reports from Mohabat News. India--Students Must Pay Idol-Worship Fee Compass Direct News Psalm 25:2 Christian orphans in West Bengal, India, must pay a fee for idol worship in order to gain admission to a high school. The fee is charged at government and government-aided schools. Subimal Dutta, director general of the society that operates the Gilgal Children's Home, has received threats for opposing the fee. In early September, extremists threatened to shut down the mission if Dutta did not stop all Christian activities at the society within seven days. They also warned him not to contact police or administrative officials. On Sept. 23, Dutta made an agreement with the village head, local political party and the Ambassadors Service Society that students would pay the idol-worship fee without complaint. Pray that God will give Dutta wisdom in this situation. Mexico--Evangelicals Expelled from Village Worthy News Isaiah 58:7 At least 70 evangelical Christians are homeless after being expelled by local authorities from the village of San Rafael, Tlanalapan. Local traditionalist Catholic leaders ordered 50 Protestant families to leave the village in Puebla state by Sept. 12, but some were allowed to stay under the condition that they worship outside the area. The traditionalist Catholics, a sect that blends Roman Catholicism with indigenous spiritualism, reportedly threatened to "crucify or lynch" the evangelicals. A regional government official, Roberto Solano Pineda, told La Jornada news agency that "local authorities agreed that evangelicals who are not originally from the area must leave, as the state government cannot guarantee their safety." The village mayor feared that he, too, would be expelled by the traditionalists if he tried to stop the expulsions, according to Mexican media reports. A few residents reportedly expressed regret that authorities did not pressure the local priest to halt the expulsions. Pray that God will provide a place for these newly homeless Christians.

Iran (MNN) ? Iranian pastor Vahik Abrahamian and his wife, Sonia, left the country for the Netherlands recently with the help of the Netherlands Embassy and with approval from the Iranian government.

Before you know it, Sunday, November 13th will be here so we wanted to remind you to make sure to order your International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church materials before it's too late.

NAIROBI, Kenya, October 19 (CDN) — Militants from the Islamic extremist al Shabaab beheaded a 17-year-old Somali Christian near Mogadishu last month, a journalist in the Somali capital told Compass. The militants, who have vowed to rid Somalia of Christianity, killed Guled Jama Muktar on Sept. 25 in his home near Deynile, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Mogadishu. The Islamic extremist group had been monitoring his family since the Christians arrived in Somalia from Kenya in 2008, said the source in Mogadishu, who requested anonymity.

Kazakhstan (MNN) ? Two new restrictive religion laws were signed into effect by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev last week, raising the concern of human rights groups, Muslims, and Christians.

The following news is from our friends at Compass Direct and concerns the death of Mark Ojunta, pictured. Please read his story and pray for his family and all believers in Nigeria.

Last week we asked you to write Pastor Forouton a letter of encouragement. I am happy to share that we had almost 100 letters written to Pastor Forouton in this past week.

Afghanistan (MNN) ? The U.S. State Department report on religious freedom indicates that there is no Christian church open to the public in Afghanistan. There are also no Christian schools.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, October 12 (CDN) — Local authorities have threatened to demolish three church buildings in Omdurman as part of a long-standing bid to rid Sudan of Christianity, Christian sources told Compass. Officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Public Utilities-Khartoum State appeared at the three church sites in Omdurman, on the Nile River opposite Khartoum, the afternoon of Sept. 11, threatening to demolish the structures if the churches continued to conduct worship services, church leaders said. Church leaders from the three churches in the Madinat al Fath area of Omdurman – the Sudanese Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church of Sudan and the Roman Catholic Church – said they were surprised to see government officials come to their church premises and accuse them of operating churches on government land without permission. The church leaders told Compass the buildings were not located on government land and required no permission.