Christians deserve ‘fair and transparent final hearing’ – UN rights experts 2 February 2018 News L to R: Victor Bet-Tamraz, Amin Afshar-Naderi, Kaviyan Fallah-Mohamadi and Hadi Asgari Four UN human rights experts have called on Iran to ensure three Christians facing between 10 and 15 years in prison are given a “fair and transparent final hearing”. Assyrian pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz and two converts, Amin Afshar-Naderi and Hadi Asgari, are due to appear before a Revolutionary Court in Tehran on Sunday. Victor and Hadi were last year sentenced to ten years each in prison for “conducting evangelism” and “illegal house church activities”; Amin was given an additional five years in prison for “insulting the sacred” (blasphemy). A fourth Christian, Kaviyan Fallah-Mohamadi, is also facing ten years in prison, but initially his case was not publicly reported. In a joint statement, the UN experts – Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on Iran; Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; and Dainius Pūras, Special Rapporteur on the right to health – say they are “deeply concerned” by the religiously motivated charges against the men, which they call “completely contrary to Iran’s international obligations under the UDHR [Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ICCPR [International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]”. They add that they are “additionally concerned” about lack of healthcare provided to the Christians, particularly Hadi, who needs treatment. They say they are “aware of several other reported cases in which members of the Christian minority have received heavy sentences after being charged with ‘threatening national security’, either for converting people or for attending house churches. This shows a disturbing pattern of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, in this case a religious minority in the country”. “Members of the Christian minority in Iran, particularly those who have converted to the faith, are facing severe discrimination and religious persecution,” they say. “The authorities must ensure fair trials for all, including the religious minorities in the country. “We also urge the government to immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been arrested and detained for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief.”
Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh taken to Evin Prison to begin 10-year sentence 20 January 2018 News Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh was today transferred to Evin Prison to begin his 10-year jail sentence for “acting against national security through the establishment of ‘house churches’”. The Christian convert has been taken to Section 8, Hall 10 of the notorious prison in Tehran. Nasser was sentenced on 23 May 2017, alongside three Christians from Azerbaijan, by Judge Mashallah Ahmadzadeh, head of Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolution Court in Tehran. All four Christians were charged with acting against national security, though their lawyers were not given access to the documents purported to show evidence of these crimes. On 12 November 2017, Branch 36 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, chaired by Judge Hassan Babaei, rejected Nasser’s appeal against his sentence, despite serious doubts as to the legality of the charges. In a strange process, the judge called on Nasser to cooperate with his interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence, in order to reduce his sentence. However, the Ministry of Intelligence was the plaintiff and investigating body in the case. Nasser was charged under Article 498 of the Islamic Penal Code, which provides for a punishment of two to ten years’ imprisonment for members of religious groups deemed to have “undermined the security of the country”. So the sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment was the harshest possible punishment Nasser could receive, even though his lawyer, Hussein Ahmadi-Niyaz, told Article18: “There has been no confession, neither is there any evidence that they wanted to overthrow or undermine the security of the state. “Throughout their interrogation process these detained Christians have emphasised that their relationship had purely a religious nature. They prayed together and spoke about the Bible.” The four Christians were first arrested in June 2016 at a private gathering in Tehran. All four were detained for over four months, including two months each in solitary confinement, before they were released after posting bail of 100 million tomans each (around $35,000). The Azerbaijanis returned to their homes and families after their release and will not be forced to return to Iran to serve their sentences. But today, after three months on bail, Nasser was taken to Tehran’s Evin Prison to begin his sentence. In the last few months, a large number of Christians have faced heavy prison sentences, as the pressure on Christians and other religious minorities increases while the Iranian government claims that these minorities, especially Christians, enjoy full freedom in Iran. The violation of the freedom of religious minorities in Iran has also been highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Asma Jahangir.
Another Christian convert arrested in Dezful 20 October 2017 News A second Christian convert has been arrested by intelligence agents in the western city of Dezful, as the crackdown on Christians there gathers pace. Abdul Ali Pourmand, who is known as Elias, was summoned to the office of the Ministry of Intelligence on 17 October following a raid on his home. The 38-year-old was at work on his farm when intelligence agents searched his home, confiscating Christian items including Bibles, pamphlets and CDs. He was then called and told to report to the Ministry of Intelligence offices later that day, upon which he was transferred to Ahvaz Prison. Elias, who is recently married, was finally able to call home earlier today to let his wife know where he is. Elias’ arrest came just a week after that of his friend and fellow convert Mohammad Ali (Davoud) Torabi, who was also taken to Ahvaz Prison after his arrest on 10 October. At the time of writing, no information is available on his condition. Three other local Christian converts have reportedly been summoned for interrogation in recent days, with some of them being beaten and threatened to “repent and return to Islam”. Local sources report that the Christians have been told that if they do not renounce their faith, they will have to “face the consequences”, such as intense pressure from intelligence agents, being forced to leave the country, or even being killed. The persecution and arrest of Iranian Christians has intensified in recent years since Ayatollah Khamenei, in a speech in 2010, described the growth of house-churches as one of the “critical” threats to the security of the Islamic Republic. And yet, Article 23 of the constitution states that “the investigation of individuals’ beliefs is forbidden, and no-one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief”.
Revolutionary Guards publish photographs of confiscated Christian items 26 September 2017 News Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have published photographs of piles of confiscated Christian items, including Bibles, New Testaments, teaching books and worship music. Article18’s Advocacy Director, Mansour Borji, told World Watch Monitor the photographs were a “publicity stunt”, aimed at spreading fear among the Christian community in Iran. He noted that the photographs, which were first released in July, were “intentionally ambiguous, with no clear indication of when the confiscations occurred, who was arrested or what’s going to happen”. “One important factor in this story is that the news is published not by the judicial authorities or the Ministry of Intelligence, but by the Revolutionary Guard, which is military organisation responsible for maintaining the state security,” Borji added. “I think the bigger question is why this military institution now seems to be mandated with the responsibility to crackdown on ‘house churches’, and why they blow the trumpet about the arrest of Christians and the confiscation of their religious material? “Why would a secure and stable government be so troubled by New Testaments and books on Christian discipleship? How can they claim to have respect for the rights of religious minorities, and then parade Christian literature as evidence of criminal activity?” Borji warned that the confiscated items will most likely be burned, as happened following a similar case two years ago. “This shows their disrespect for Christian holy books,” he said. “The Nazis went around burning books, and a German poet, Henrich Heine, wrote that ‘Where they burn books, they will also in the end burn people’. This anti-Christian rhetoric and attitude will lead to further violence.” The original reports and photographs by Iranian state media can be viewed here: Fars News Agency, Sobh Pardis, Mehr News Agency (1), Mehr (2), Mehr (3).
Christian convert Amin Afshar-Naderi released on bail from Evin Prison 25 July 2017 News Christian convert Amin Afshar-Naderi was today released on bail from Tehran’s Evin Prison until the conclusion of his appeal. Amin, who was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison, had been in detention since his arrest 11 months ago. He was finally released after undergoing a three-week hunger strike to complain against the harsh ruling and high bail demands. At the onset of his hunger strike 21 days ago, Amin said he would not eat again until he had received a fair trial and his bail had been reduced. Earlier this month, Amin was sentenced to 10 years in prison for “action against national security by organising and conducting house-churches”, and an additional five years in prison for “insulting the sacred” (blasphemy). He was also given a two-year travel ban. Amin was first arrested at a Christmas celebration in 2014, alongside his pastor, Victor Bet-Tamraz, and another Christian convert, Kavian Fallah-Mohammadi. Amin was re-arrested in August 2016 during a raid on a private garden in Firoozkooh, east of Tehran, after which he and four other Christians were taken to Evin Prison’s Ward 209. Three of the Christians were released on bail in October and November, but Amin and another convert, Hadi Asgari, remained in detention, spending three months in solitary confinement in Ward 209, before being transferred to Ward 4. A court hearing took place on 8 April, combining Amin and Hadi’s cases with those of Kavian Fallah-Mohammadi and pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz. Hadi, Kavian and Victor were sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Amin to 15 – sentences communicated to them verbally earlier this month. Hadi remains in prison, while the others have been freed on bail until the conclusion of their appeals.
Four converts given 10-year prison sentences 13 July 2017 News Left to right: Saheb Fadaie, Yousef Nadarkhani, Yasser Mossayebzadeh, and Youhan Omidi. Four converts have been sentenced to 10 years each in prison for “acting against national security by propagating house-churches and promoting ‘Zionist’ Christianity”. The ruling against Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammad Reza (Youhan) Omidi, Zaman (Saheb) Fadaie, and Mohammad Ali (Yasser) Mossayebzadeh comes just days after three other converts and an Iranian-Assyrian pastor were sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison on similar charges. Both sentences were pronounced by the same judge, Mashallah Ahmadzadeh, at branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Separately, another Iranian convert and three Azerbaijani Christians also recently received 10-year sentences. Yousef and Youhan have also been sentenced to two years’ exile – Yousef in Nik-Shahr and Youhan in Borazjan. Both of these locations are in the south of the country, far away from their families in Rasht. The verdict was dated 24 June, but was received by the lawyer for the four men on 6 July. They have lodged an appeal. Background The four men were arrested on 13 May 2016, alongside Yousef’s wife Fatemeh (Tina). Yousef and Tina were released the same day, but the other three men were detained for two weeks, then released on bail of 100 million tomans (around $33,000). Their first hearing took place on 8 May 2017, and the second on 14 June – both at the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court, under Judge Ahmadzadeh. Yousef has already spent years in prison and once faced the death sentence for “apostasy”, before an international outcry saw his sentence overturned.
Christians converts end hunger strike after receiving assurances 17 February 2017 News Amin Afshar-Naderi (left) and Hadi Asgari have been in prison since August 2016. Imprisoned Christian converts Amin Afshar-Naderi and Hadi Asgari have ended their hunger strikes after receiving assurances their cases will be expedited. Amin and Hadi, who have been in prison since their arrest in August last year, began their hunger strikes on 5 and 11 February, respectively, in protest against the lack of progress in their case. On 15 February, Article18 reported that there were concerns over Amin’s health, 10 days into the hunger strike, as he suffered a reported kidney infection, dramatic loss of blood pressure, and denial of medical treatment. But just two days later, their hunger strike has ended after they were promised movement in their case and a reduction in their bail demands from 200 to 170 million tomans (around $50,000). Amin and Hadi were arrested alongside three other Christians at a private gathering in Firoozkooh, east of Tehran, nearly six months ago now. The other three Christians were released on bail in October and November, but Amin and Hadi have remained in detention, spending the first 82 days in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison, before being transferred to Ward 4.
Christians converts on hunger strike in Evin Prison 15 February 2017 News Amin Afshar-Naderi (left) and Hadi Asgari have been on hunger strike since 5 February. There are concerns over the health of one of two Christian converts currently undertaking a hunger strike in Tehran’s Evin Prison to protest against the lack of progress in their case. Amin Afshar-Naderi, who has been on hunger strike since 5 February, is reported to have suffered a kidney infection, while his weight has also dropped and his blood pressure fallen dangerously low. Amin was taken to hospital on 11 February, the seventh day of his hunger strike, but later returned to prison without treatment. His friend and fellow Christian prisoner of conscience Hadi Asgari began his own hunger strike on the day Amin was taken to hospital. They are protesting against the lack of progress in their case, more than five months after their arrest in Firoozkooh. The three other Christians arrested alongside them were released on bail in October and November. But Hadi and Amin have remained in detention, spending the first 82 days in solitary confinement in Ward 209, before being moved to Ward 4. Their families have been closely monitoring their cases, but have not been allowed to visit. Amin was first arrested alongside another Christian convert, Kavian Fallah-Mohammadi, and their pastor, Victor Bet-Tamraz, in December 2014, as they celebrated Christmas together. Following that arrest – on charges of “membership of a house-church” – Amin spent 40 days in solitary confinement in Ward 209, before being released on bail of 100 million tomans (around $35,000).
Five Christians arrested during garden raid in Firoozkooh 29 August 2016 News Left to right: Mohammad Dehnavi, Hadi Asgari, Amin Afshar-Naderi, Ramiel Bet-Tamraz, and Amir-Saman Dashti. Five Christians have been arrested during a raid by 15 intelligence agents on a private garden in Firoozkooh, east of Tehran. The raid took place on the morning of Friday 26 August, when five of the approximately 15 Christians present were arrested. The names of those arrested are: Amin Afshar-Naderi, Hadi Asgari, Amir-Saman Dashti, Mohammad Dehnavi, and Ramiel Bet-Tamraz, son of Iranian-Assyrian pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz. Amin, who was last arrested alongside Pastor Victor and fellow Christian convert Kavian Fallah-Mohammadi during a Christmas celebration in 2014, was beaten for protesting against the illegal entry of the intelligence agents into the property. The five Christians were then transferred to Evin detention centre, from where at least one of them was able to call their family the following day to let them know where they were being held. They have been verbally accused of engaging in “evangelistic activity” through membership of a house-church, but no court hearing has yet taken place. The families of those arrested have expressed concern that Ministry of Intelligence officials, for lack of sufficient evidence to convict the defendants of the Christmas 2014 arrests, would pressure them into testifying against one another.
Christian convert begins hunger strike after beating by prison guards 12 July 2016 News Christian prisoner of conscience Ebrahim Firouzi has begun a hunger strike after he was beaten by prison guards in Karaj’s Rajaei Shahr Prison for refusing to attend an appeal hearing because the court had not accepted new evidence submitted in his case. After being forced to attend the hearing, it transpired that one of the judges was on leave, while the other told Ebrahim there was no need for him to be there, as his lawyer could speak on his behalf. Ebrahim began his hunger strike yesterday to protest against his mistreatment and to call for legal action against the officers who beat him. The prison officers have subsequently threatened to intensify his punishment and file a new case against him. Ebrahim is currently serving a five-year sentence for being part of a house-church, for which he was convicted of “running illegal and anti-security organisations in order to promote deviant ‘Zionist’ Christianity”. Before this sentence, handed down to him in April 2015, Ebrahim had already spent one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime by establishing and organising Christian gatherings” and “having contacts with anti-revolutionary networks outside Iran”. He also faces two years in exile in the remote southeastern city of Sarbaz following his release. Ebrahim is currently in Hall 31, Ward 10 of the Karaj prison.