Reports from Iran indicate that the Investigation Branch of the Tehran Security Court, after completing the interrogation process for the release of Joseph Shahbazian, 56, an Armenian citizen imprisoned in Evin Prison, issued a bail of 3 Billion Tomans ($137,000).
Shahbazian was arrested about three weeks ago on June 30 during a worship service in the Yaftabad area of Tehran
“Article 18” website, while confirming this news, reported that at the time of the attack of the security agents on the house church meeting in Yaftabad, Tehran, apart from Mr. Shahbazian, about 30 other Christian converts were also present in this meeting
The issuance of extremely heavy bail for Shahbazian is while the court previously set a bail of 3 Billion Tomans for the temporary release of “Maliheh Nazari”, a member of “One-Hearted” House Church in Tehran
Eyewitnesses say some of the detainees were also beaten after security forces raided a ceremony held in Yaftabad
Eyewitnesses say that at the present time, only Shahbazian is still in custody. Among the Christians who were arrested on June 30th and July 1st were Farhad Khazaei, Salar Ishraqi Moghaddam, and Mina Khajavi, each of whom was temporarily released on bail of 1.2 Billion Tomans ($55,000). The bail for these people was set at 800 million ($36,000) by the court, which increased to one Billion two hundred Million Tomans ($55,000) when the bail was deposited, taking into account “some additional charges
In recent weeks, at least 35 Christian converts have been arrested or summoned or interrogated in three cities, Tehran, Karaj and Malayer, reveals that a new wave of pressure has begun on Christians
According to some reports, more than 50 Christians have been arrested
Most of them have been accused of “propaganda against the regime” and “acting against national security” through “membership in the house church of Zionist Christianity”. Security forces pressured and threatened the detainee’s families in order to prevent them from disclosing any detail about their detention
In this round of detentions, in particular, the coverts were beaten, insulted and detained, and the courts issued heavy bail in a coordinated manner
Extensive arrests and interrogations by intelligence agencies, heavy sentences including long prison terms and deportation for Christians, especially converts, heavy bail, pressure and closure of house churches, and security charges including disrupting national security and espionage for Foreign countries are part of Iranian regime’s pressure on Christians and Christian converts
The Islamic Republic sees Christianity as Western influence and a threat to Islamic identity. Security officials, especially clerics, have always been concerned about the growing number of young people converting to Christianity in the country. The conversion of Muslim citizens in Iran to Christianity takes place at a time when it is legally considered apostasy and is severely punished. However, people become believers through Persian-language Christian media and receive relevant teachings. They hold their prayers in private churches with other family members secretly and out of sight of regime’s officials
نظرات
ارسال یک نظر