Muslim Convert to Christianity
Preaches Democracy to Millions

Persian Ministries International
Feb 3, 2005

San Jose, CA -- In the face of political and religious persecution that includes the torture and martyrdom of associates, and being blacklisted by the Iranian government, Donald Fareed, a former Iranian Shiite Muslim and founder of the San Jose-based Persian Ministries International (PMI) (www.PersianMinistries.org), announces his prediction that Iran will undergo regime change to become a model of democracy in the Middle East within just a few years.

Fareed, now a U.S. citizen and Christian pastor, has preached a radical, combined message of religion and politics. For years, his non-profit organization Persian Ministries International (PMI) has had a weekly series of television programs that enjoys up to 30 million Farsi-speaking Muslim viewers who not only hear Fareed preach democracy along with the gospel. Fareed encourages viewers to press the fundamentalist Iranian regime for religious freedom and referendum using Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s principles of civil disobedience and non-violent, passive resistance.

Fareed's programs broadcast into the heart of the "10-40 window" around the Persian Gulf in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the Southern part of Iraq where nearly 90 million Farsi-speaking Muslims live. His unique, combined spiritual and political message has attracted many to hear his religious message in the context of what is relevant to their political and religious struggles with Islam, particularly the fundamentalist version.

"Iran is ready for democracy, and America needs to know that." Fareed points to Iran's predominantly pro-West, secular population, which is fed up with Islamic fundamentalism. He also points to 70 percent of Iran's population, which consists of young intellectuals under age 30 and women who have suffered under fundamentalist Islamic law, with whom his message is especially resonating. Recently, Iran has undergone many internal changes. The constitution is being re-written by pro- democracy groups, people are protesting for regime change through civil disobedience, and there is a huge movement for referendum.

"We are making significant strides in the Muslim world. I believe Iran will be a model of democracy in the Middle East in just a few years, and that we will have one million Muslim converts to Christianity in Iran by the end of 2007," Fareed says confidently.

Fareed is also convinced that the defeat the Islamic-based government in Iran will greatly contribute to the defeat of Islamic fundamentalism everywhere, but insists that time is of the essence. "The majority of Iranians are pro-democracy, and claim their only hope is President Bush. As Americans, we need to encourage our government to actively support the Iranians," urges Fareed. "If America supports the pro-democracy movement in Iran, it will lead to the downfall of the current Iranian regime, and that will send shockwaves throughout the entire Muslim world. It will be a huge wakeup call that Islam, particularly the fundamentalist version, isn't working," he says enthusiastically.

Fareed began preaching his political agenda after the martyrdom by the Iranian government of a close associate, the Bishop of the Assemblies of God Church in Iran. Fear of meeting the same fate as a Muslim apostate kept him from preaching politics actively for years, but a later diagnosis with an incurable muscular disease made him realize he had nothing to lose.

Facing certain death, Fareed did not hesitate to confront the Islamic government of Iran with their atrocities, encourage Iranians to push for religious freedom and referendum, and talk about his religious conversion from Islam to Christianity. As a result of his courageous broadcasts, millions of Muslims around the world have heard the Christian gospel, and thousands have converted to Christianity, and the pro-democracy movement in Iran has been encouraged.

Preaching against the Islamic-controlled Iranian government put Fareed in a precarious position, however. His first convert in Iran was caught by the Iranian secret service and tortured. Once released, there were two attempts on his life, forcing him to flee the country. Soon the Iranian government blacklisted Fareed, and Iran National TV aired his photograph, accusing him of "anti-Islamic activities with the intent to topple the government of Iran." "Due to several incidents at one point, I told my board of directors, 'I think my time is up,'" recalls Fareed. "But I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try to help my people."

=======================================

About Persian Ministries International (PMI) Persian Ministries International (PMI) is an evangelistic non-profit Christian organization with a vision of getting its political and religious message to over 100 million Persian-speaking Muslims worldwide. PMI encourages Muslim-Christian dialog, works to bring the Church to an awareness of the needs and opportunities for ministering to Muslim people in the U.S. and around the world, and challenging and equipping Christians to reach out in love to Muslims. For more information, please visit www.Persian Ministries.org.