Christian citizens commemorate "Gurban Turani" 20 years after his martyrdom

Turkmen Christian citizens honored the memory of "Kurban Turani," a devoted servant of the Gospel who was murdered for his faith and peaceful activities, by lighting candles and offering flowers on the 20th anniversary of his murder.

Yesterday, Tuesday, November 25, 2025, on the 20th anniversary of the murder of Qurban Dardi Turani, a group of Iranian and Turkmen Christian citizens in different parts of the world, including Stockholm, kept his memory alive by lighting candles and offering flowers. This symbolic ceremony is not only a tribute to a devoted Christian servant, but also a reminder of the price that many Christian citizens in Iran have paid for their faith.

Qurban Turani, a Turkmen citizen from Gonbad-e Kavous, was born into a Muslim family, but his life was transformed when he was introduced to the message of the Gospel in the 1990s. Upon his return to Iran, he founded and led a small house church in his hometown. Reports indicate that at least 12 Turkmen citizens have also joined the Christian faith through his ministry and love.

His peaceful activities, including Bible study, teaching the Christian faith, and helping families in need, were met with repeated threats. Local citizens and security forces repeatedly intimidated and threatened him. Despite this pressure, Turani continued his ministry, making him a prominent figure in the Turkmen Christian community.

In November 2005, after years of threats, Qurban was abducted and his bloody body was left outside his home a few hours after the abduction. His death dealt a heavy blow to Iran’s Christian community. Following the murder, security forces raided his home and searched it for holy books and Christian resources. Several Turkmen Christian citizens were also warned that if they continued their religious activities, they would face “the fate of Qurban Turani.”

Twenty years after this tragic event, the name and memory of Ghorban Tourani still lives on among Iranian Christians. For many, he is a symbol of perseverance, loyalty, and love for Christ; a man who shared the message of the Gospel with kindness and courage among his people, ultimately sacrificing his life for the cause.

Participants in his anniversary celebrations this year, lighting candles, laying flowers, and reciting prayers, emphasized the continuity of his path of peace. They recalled that Turani’s martyrdom is not only a historical event, but also a living current in the collective memory of the Iranian Christian community, a current that continues to inspire faith, hope, and perseverance.

May the memory of this true servant of God, who lit the lamp of love and faith in the darkness, be eternal.