The Rev. Robert Asserian, a pastor at the Central Assemblies of God (AOG) Church in Tehran, was arrested on May 21 while conducting a prayer meeting at the church.
After his arrest, the church’s weekly meetings were cancelled and the church was closed down by the authorities on May 23. Pastor Asserian’s condition, whereabouts and the charges against him remained unknown at time of going to press.
Bible school
Pastor Asserian is an Iranian-Armenian Christian psychologist, author and translator. He is also a member of the governing council of the Central AOG church of Tehran, serving there as a teacher and administrator of the Bible school at the Farsi-speaking church. He has translated numerous valuable Christian theology books, which have been published by domestic publishers in Iran.
