Retired American pastor arrested for protesting outside Evin Prison 21 October 2013 News A retired American pastor has been arrested by security forces after peacefully protesting outside Evin Prison against the arbitrary detention of Iranian Christians and increased pressure on the Church in the country. Eddie Romero live-streamed today’s protest on his website, using a hidden camera and microphone. But the recording was cut off during his arrest and since then there has been no news of the pastor. The pastor had said he was seeking to raise awareness of the pressure on Christians in Iran and to call for the release of four Iranian Christians: Farshid Fathi, Saeed Abedini, Mostafa Bordbar and Alireza Seyyedian. Pastor Romero also called for the release of imprisoned human rights lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, who defended Christians including Yousef Nadarkhani. Over 40 Christians are currently detained in Iranian prisons due to their religious activities, labelled “actions against national security” and “propaganda against the regime”. At least seven of them, including Farshid Fathi, Saeed Abedini, Mostafa Bordbar and Alireza Seyyedian, are in Evin Prison. Farshid and Alireza, arrested in the winter of 2010, are serving six-year sentences, Saeed eight, and Mostafa ten. They are in Ward 350. Also detained in Evin Prison are Maryam Naghash Zargaran, who began serving a four-year sentence in July, and Ebrahim Firouzi and Sevada Aghasar, who were arrested in June and have been held for interrogations in Ward 209 of the prison. Pastor Romero was the pastor of a Californian church before his retirement, and now lectures in philosophy. His protest comes as negotiations continue between Iran and the international community over its nuclear programme. Pastor Romero had previously stated that the purpose of his protest was to remind the Iranian government of its international human rights obligations, and in particular for respect of the right to freedom of religion and belief, as enshrined in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “The release of unjustly imprisoned Iranian Christians, as well as respect for legal and international obligations to respect the right to freedom of religion and belief, are demands that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran cannot easily ignore at this critical socio-political moment,” says Article18’s Advocacy Director, Mansour Borji. “Despite the promises made about easing the pressure against religious minorities, Farsi-speaking Christians are still under pressure and in recent months several have been handed very severe sentences.”
Arrested Christians taken to Evin Prison 17 October 2013 News Two Christians from Tehran arrested almost two months ago are in Ward 209 of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, Article18 understands. Ebrahim Firouzi and Sevada Aghasar were arrested on 21 August at a friend’s office in Karaj, then taken away to an unknown location. There had been no news of their situation until now, when it emerges that after their arrest they were placed in solitary confinement and interrogated. During their arrest, they were held in a Tehran traffic jam for three hours, while plainclothes officers waited for the authorities to supply them with an official order for their arrest. Ebrahim is a Christian activist who has been arrested on several occasions for his Christian activities. He was finally able to call his family on 9 October for a few minutes and also to meet with them briefly. On 13 July, the 28-year-old convert to Christianity was sentenced to a year in prison and two years in exile in Sarbaz, in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic”, “launching and guiding the deviant organisation of Christian evangelism”, “communication with anti-revolutionary elements in foreign countries and foreign anti-revolutionary channels”, and “launching a Christian site”. His re-arrest came after he was summoned to report to Evin Prison to serve his sentence. Sevada Agasar is an Armenian Christian from Tehran. Article18 understands he was able to contact his family a month after his arrest, on 26 September, and to meet with them briefly via a see-through screen. The charges against him are not yet clear, though it appears his arrest was a result of his activities on Facebook and being in conversation with some Persian-speaking Christians. Despite the election promises of Hassan Rouhani to improve the situation for religious minorities, the arrests of active Christians, closure of Persian-speaking churches, and issuance of unfair sentences, especially for Persian-speaking Christians, continue. More than 42 Christians are currently in prison in Iran because of their religious activities. Last month, four Christian converts lost their appeal against jail sentences of three years and eight months. Mojtaba Hosseini, Homayoun Shekoohi, Vahid Hakani, and Mohammad Reza (Koroush) Partovi were arrested on 8 February 2012 and in June 2013 convicted of attending an illegal “house church”, propagating Christianity, spreading propaganda against the state, and disrupting national security. They are serving their sentences is Shiraz’s Adel Abad Prison. Meanwhile, Maryam Naghash Zargaran, another Christian being held in Evin Prison, was transferred to Modarres Hospital in Tehran on 29 September after having a heart attack.
Christians lose appeals against jail sentences in Shiraz 9 October 2013 News Left to right: Homayoun Shekoohi, Mojtaba Hosseini, Vahid Hakani, and Mohammad Reza Partovi. An appeals court in Shiraz today upheld the prison sentences of four Christian converts. In June, after already spending eight months in prison, Mojtaba Hosseini, Homayoun Shekoohi, Vahid Hakani, and Mohammad Reza Partovi were each sentenced to three years and eight months in prison on charges of participating in house-church meetings, propagating and spreading Christianity, propaganda against the regime, and disrupting national security. This verdict has now been upheld by the appeals court, meaning the Christians will remain in the so-called “Ward of Lessons” in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz, known for its poor conditions. The Christians were first arrested at a house-church prayer meeting on 8 February 2012. In recent weeks, prisoners of conscience in the “Ward of Lessons” have faced more restrictions and pressures. According to a report from the Majzooban Noor website, which reports on the situation of Gonabadi dervishes, for more than a month political prisoners and prisoners of conscience have been prevented from access to regular drinking water. Instead, these prisoners, including dervishes, Christians and Baha’is, have been forced to buy water from the prison shop at a very high price. During the last two weeks, the deterioration of the cooling system in the prison has led to an increase in water consumption, which has therefore come at an additional cost to the prisoners. Trusted sources, in addition, report that the prisoners in the Ward of Lessons are not allowed fresh air, nor to receive adequate food. Prisoners’ appeals to prison officials have so far been fruitless. More than 42 Christians are currently in prison in Iran because of their Christian beliefs and activities, according to credible reports. In addition, 45 other Christians are awaiting trial or a final verdict. Despite three months of the new government, there is still no change in the process of suppression and inhumane treatment of Christians, especially Persian-speaking converts.
Maryam Naghash Zargaran loses appeal against four-year sentence 3 October 2013 News Maryam (Nasim) Naghash Zargaran has lost her appeal against a four-year sentence for “propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic and gathering and conspiracy against the security of the country” through “the expansion of house-churches inside the country”. Nasim was first arrested in January, and detained for three days at the Vozara detention centre run by the Ministry of Intelligence. While she was detained, her home was raided and all books and pamphlets relating to Christianity were confiscated. Her case was then referred to the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, and she was transferred to Evin Prison. After 19 days, she was released on bail after submitting 70 million tomans (approximately $50,000) for bail. Despite much hope that she would be acquitted, Nasim was sentenced to four years in prison and began serving her sentence on 15 July. The judge in her case was Mohammad Moghiseh, head of Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, whose human rights violations have been highlighted by human rights groups, alongside those of judge Pir Abbasi and Salavati. Judge Moghiseh in particular is known for having imposed heavy sentences on social activists after the 2009 presidential election. The case against Nasim centred on: * Her change of religion from Islam to Protestant Christianity * Her active membership in ‘house churches’ * Setting up churches to attract young people to Christianity * Communicating with Christian organisations abroad to promote Christianity * Travel to Turkey to attend Christian gatherings The verdict stated that she had acted “in line with the United Kingdom and Israel’s anti-security agenda to spread Christianity in Iran in order to pervert Iranian society away from Islam”. She was convicted under articles 610 and 46 of the Islamic Penal Code, with the verdict stating: “The Court considers her actions were taken in line with the anti-security goals of the United Kingdom and the occupying regime in Jerusalem to expand house-churches in the country and create deviations in the Islamic society, and in accordance with Article 610 of the Islamic Penal Code and Article 46 of the Islamic Penal Code she was sentenced to four years in prison.” In his third report last year, Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, referred to the arbitrary detention of more than 300 Iranian Christians. “Christian converts have been arrested and threatened and charged with apostasy to be put under pressure to abandon Christianity,” the report said. Currently, at least 43 Christians, including 11 women, are in prison in Iran because of their religious activities. Farshid Fathi, Saeed Abedini and Mostafa Bordbar are among the other Christian prisoners currently in Evin Prison, serving sentences of six, eight and ten years, respectively. Their cases were also presided over by Judge Salavati and Judge Pir Abbasi.
Christian prisoner Maryam Naghash Zargaran taken to hospital 29 September 2013 News Maryam Naghash Zargaran has been transferred to Tehran’s Modarres Hospital after suffering an apparent heart attack. The Christian convert, who is serving a four-year sentence in Evin Prison, has a long-term heart condition and has previously undergone heart surgery. Maryam, who is better known as Nasim, has been in prison since 15 July. She was first arrested in January and summoned to the Ministry of the Interior, where she was held for three days. Nasim was then taken to Evin Prison after preliminary interrogations, and her case was referred to the Islamic Revolutionary Court. On 9 March, she was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted in Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of “propaganda against the Islamic regime and collusion intended to harm national security”. The judges in her case were Mohammad Moghiseh, the head of Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, Judge Pir Abbasi and Judge Salavati – all of whom are known for their violations of human rights. Judge Moghiseh in particular is known for having imposed heavy sentences on social activists after the 2009 presidential election. The ruling did not change in the appeal court, and Nasim was taken to Evin Prison to begin her sentence on 24 July 2013. In the last few years, Iran’s judiciary and security services have begun to invoke “national security” in charges against Christians – particularly the converts who attend underground “house churches”. The case against Nasim centred on: * Her change of religion from Islam to Protestant Christianity * Her active membership in ‘house churches’ * Setting up churches to attract young people to Christianity * Communicating with Christian organisations abroad to promote Christianity * Travel to Turkey to attend Christian gatherings The verdict stated that she had acted “in line with the United Kingdom and Israel’s anti-security agenda to spread Christianity in Iran in order to pervert Iranian society away from Islam”. She was convicted under articles 610 and 46 of the Islamic Penal Code. Nasim’s case has been publicised around the world, with various institutions and churches expressing concern for her and calling for her release.
Christian converts among political prisoners released from Evin 18 September 2013 News Christian converts Maryam Jalili and Mitra Rahmati are among more than a dozen political prisoners to have been released on the eve of President Hassan Rouhani’s trip to the UN in New York. The two Christians had only around one and a half months left of their two-and-a-half-year prison sentences for attending a house-church. Human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, serving a six-year sentence for her defence of political prisoners, was also among the at least 16 released. The issue of repeated human rights violations has been a key topic of discussion in Iran’s negotiations with the West in recent years, so the timing of the news, ahead of Rouhani’s trip to New York, seems unlikely to be a coincidence.
Three Christian converts still detained month after arrest 13 August 2013 News Three Christian converts arrested last month in the north-western city of Tabriz remain in detention. Farshid Modares, Mohammad Reza Piri and Yashar Farzin-No were arrested by security forces on 11 July. There is still no information about the charges they are facing. Yashar and his wife have previously been threatened by security agents to deny their Christian faith and return to Islam. In an interview today with Radio Farda, Article18’s advocacy director Mansour Borji explained that at least one of these Christians was beaten during his interrogation, and needed to be treated in hospital for his injuries. “Since May this year, a significant number of Christian converts in various cities, including Ahvaz, Tehran, Shiraz, Rasht, Isfahan and Tabriz, have been arrested and sentenced,” Mr Borji explained. “In this period alone, 30 Christians have been sentenced to a combined total of 52 years in prison. “The number of Christian converts arrested has been higher than reported, and the fate of some of them is unknown.” Last month, one Christian convert, Mostafa Bordbar, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Convert Mostafa Bordbar sentenced to 10 years in prison 31 July 2013 News Christian convert Mostafa Bordbar has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for “gathering with intent to commit crimes against Iranian national security”. The verdict, which was communicated today to his lawyer, Shima Ghosheh, was issued by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, chaired by Judge Pir Abbasi. Mostafa, who is 27 years old, was arrested in December during a raid by plainclothes security forces on a gathering of around 50 Christians celebrating Christmas at a house in northern Tehran. A retired Iranian-Armenian pastor, Vruir Avanessian, was also arrested and detained for 15 days at Evin Prison, before being released on bail. A number of other Christians were detained for several hours, then released. Following his arrest, Mostafa spent several months in Ward 350 of Evin Prison, alongside fellow Christians Farshid Fathi and Alireza Seyyedian. In June, the three men wrote a joint letter to President-elect Hassan Rouhani, congratulating him on his election and urging him to return freedom to religious minorities, especially Christians. The letter stated: Dear Dr Rohani, the elected president of our dear nation. Greetings … We, the Christian prisoners, would like to congratulate you on your success in being elected as our president and becoming the head of the law enforcement in Iran. We ask God’s wisdom and blessings upon you and your office. May your office, having such a delicate and sensitive role, by God’s help, bring honour and glory to our country, Iran. We pray that you may bring freedom of religion to religious minorities in Iran, especially Christians – freedom which would allow us to worship God, the creator of heaven and earth. We wish that we may not be prisoners during your term in office, although being in prison just because of our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is an honour for us. We pray that God’s fear would be in your heart and his wisdom and grace would be a light to your feet. May God’s grace help you to go through the challenging years ahead. Best regards, Farshid Fathi, Alireza Seyyedian, Mostafa Bordbar
Eight converts given prison sentences in Shiraz 19 July 2013 News The Revolutionary Court in Shiraz on Tuesday 16 July handed heavy jail sentences to eight members of the “Church of Iran”. Mohammad (Vahid) Roghangir was sentenced to six years in prison; Massoud Rezaei to five; Mehdi Ameruni and Bigan Farokhpour Haghighi to three; Shahin Lahooti and Soroush Saraei to two and a half; and Eskandar Rezaei and Roxana Forughi to one. They were convicted of “action against national security” and “propaganda against the regime”. All eight are expected to appeal. Seven of the eight were arrested in October at a “house church” meeting in Shiraz at the home of Mohammad Roghangir. The eighth, Massoud Rezaei, was arrested six days later. All eight were eventually released on bail after paying significant sums. Over the past few years, the use of national-security-related charges against prisoners of conscience has become a constant trend in the Islamic Republic’s judicial system, with the aim of providing a political tone to the activities of religious minorities and providing a legal basis for their conviction. Article18’s Advocacy Director, Mansour Borji, commented: “It is unfortunate that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in violation of its legal and international obligations, continues to persecute religious minorities, especially Persian-speaking Christians, by making false accusations such as ‘acting against national security’ against house-church members and their peaceful activities. “Article18 demands that Iran respects the legal rights of Persian-speakingChristians, providing them with true religious freedom in accordance with Article 18 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.”
Ebrahim Firouzi sentenced to jail and exile 13 July 2013 News Ebrahim Firouzi, a Christian convert and prisoner of conscience, has been sentenced to one year in prison followed by two years in exile in the far-southeastern city of Sarbaz, in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Ebrahim was arrested on 7 March, and released on bail from Evin Prison 53 days later – on 29 April. On 13 July, he was sentenced on charges of “propaganda against the regime by establishing and organising Christian gatherings” and “having contacts with foreign anti-revolutionary networks”. Ebrahim, who has been arrested several times before on charges of Christian propaganda and evangelism, had previously been given a suspended five-month jail sentence, which will be added to his term of imprisonment. “The court’s decision is that the actions and activities carried out by the accused against the Islamic Republic of Iran have been identified and, therefore, according to Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code, the court condemns him to one year’s imprisonment, including time already spent in detention,” ruled Judge Hassan Babaei of the Revolutionary Court of Robat Karim. Judge Babaei said “the establishment of a Christian propaganda site and house-church” were evidence of Ebrahim’s actions against the Islamic Republic. “Such actions,” he said, “are used by opponents of the regime to take action against the Islamic system. Because holding such meetings is basically to promote licentiousness among the youth; and to create suspicion in the principles of Islam is one of the basic policies of the criminal activities of this group. Certainly, the people who hold meetings or lead the group in such deviant groups cannot be considered as people who are respected in Article 13 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran [which recognises Christians as a protected religious minority].” In recent years, as a result of increasing international pressure on Iran for violations of freedom of opinion and religion, security-related charges, such as “acts against national security” and “propaganda against the state”, have become more widely used against prisoners of conscience. Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, expressed deep concern about the situation of religious minorities in his March report, referring to “discrimination in law and practice”. “A number of interviewees maintained that they were repeatedly interrogated about their religious beliefs, and a majority of interviewees reported being charged with national security crimes and/or propaganda against the state for religious activities,” he said.