Explore the courageous journey of Iranian Christians who faced persecution after the 1979 revolution. Discover how Naghmeh Panahi and her husband established secret house churches despite serious risks. Hear about transformative moments during interrogations that deepened faith. Witness the growth of this underground movement, fueled by passionate young believers. Delve into the emotional tale of a woman's advocacy for her imprisoned husband, highlighting resilience and the fight for freedom amidst oppression.
08:58
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Conversion of the Interrogator
Naghmeh Panahi and her husband Saeed were arrested for their Christian faith in Iran.
Despite threats, they professed their faith, leading to a surprising conversion of their interrogator.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Naghmeh's Return to Iran
Naghmeh Panahi's family fled Iran after the 1979 revolution and converted to Christianity in the US.
She returned to Iran as a missionary, initially facing rejection but eventually converting some family members.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Meeting Saeed
Naghmeh's missionary work expanded after meeting Saeed at a Christian service.
She asked him to teach her small group, partly to get to know him better.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
After Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979, some Christians faced persecution. Between 2002 and 2005, Naghmeh Panahi and her husband, Saeed Abedini, set up a network of secret 'house churches' across the country. But it came at a cost: they were arrested, forced to flee the country, and Saeed was jailed. Naghmeh Panahi speaks to Ben Henderson.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.
(Photo: Naghmeh Panahi. Credit: Kyle Green/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Witness History