Contact: Jerry Dykstra, Director, Open Doors USA, 616-915-4117, jerryd@odusa.org

SANTA ANA, Calif., October 11 /Standard Newswire/ -- Iran, December 1993: An Islamic judge in northern Iran condemns a zealous Christian convert from Islam - Mehdi Dibaj - to death. His crime was apostasy. Dibaj had already served 10 years in prison.

Bishop Haik Hovsepian, the leader of evangelical Christians in Iran, speaks out for his brother in Christ. He launches an international campaign for Dibaj’s sentence to be overturned.

Hovsepian's campaign is successful. Dibaj is freed only a few days before his execution date. But there is a price to pay...a very heavy price.

On Jan. 19, 1994, Hovsepian disappears. Twelve days later his body is identified in a morgue by one of his sons. He had been stabbed 26 times.

Haik Hovsepian's story - told through the eyes and camera lens of his sons Joseph and Andre - is now a compelling documentary called A Cry From Iran.

"This is the story of not only of my father's martyrdom, but also of the victims who have been killed and continue to be tortured for being Christians. The chronicling of his life and death puts a focus on the many stories of persecution that are happening as we speak," said film director and producer Joseph Hovsepian.

"This is a compelling, must-see documentary which graphically shows what Christians like Haik Hvsepian go through because they place their faith in Jesus Christ," says Open Doors USA President/CEO Dr. Carl Moeller. "He is definitely one of our modern-day heroes of the faith."

Joseph and Andre Hovsepian have put their heart and soul into the project, which included filming in five countries, interviews with 40 political and religion experts, family and friends, 42 months of production and 200 hours of archive footage.

Iran is ranked No. 3 on Open Doors' World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most severe persecution.

A Cry From Iran is playing at selected theaters across the United States. The DVD will be available to order October 18. For more information, to order the DVD and to view a trailer from the documentary go to www.acryfromiran.com. A Cry From Iran has been produced in partnership with Open Doors International, a worldwide organization which supports and strengthens Christians who are persecuted for their faith. Go to www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.

(For more information or to set up an interview with the Hovsepian brothers, contact Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117 or email jerryd@odusa.org).

Celebrating 50 Years of Serving the Persecuted Church