Shi’ite Muslim Persians of Iran
In 1979, Westerners were primarily concerned about communist revolutions, but Iran showed the world how oppression would look after communism fell. The Western-leaning Shah of Iran and his supporters were driven into exile by Iran’s new leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran was declared an Islamic republic. In an Islamic republic, all non-Islamic influences must be shut down. After Ayatollah Khomeini came into power, most educated Iranians fled the country, and the remaining population had to adjust to revolutionary changes. Women were forced to wear their hijabs (head scarves), boys and girls were no longer allowed to play together and any kind of Western “non-Islamic” activities were punished.
In today’s Iran, these policies are creating a backlash among the youth. These young people have lost hope for Iran’s future. According to the Christian Science Monitor, many Persian youths are giving up on politics because they feel it is useless to support candidates promoted by inept Islamic clerics. One young man received 75 lashes for drinking alcohol. Rappers and singers have been imprisoned for their form of expression. Human rights groups are exposing the excesses and encouraging diplomatic pressure on the Iranian government, which in turn is becoming increasingly hostile to these groups.
Pray for Persian youth to put their hope in Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to do a new work in Iran’s clerics.-KW
Iu Mien, Yao of China 
People Name: Iu Mien, Yao
Country Name: China
Population: 1,193,000
Primary Language: Iu Mien
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
% Evangelical: 0.15
Status: Unreached
