Rasoul Abdollahi taken to Evin Prison to begin three-year sentence 20 December 2013 News Christian convert Rasoul Abdollahi has been taken to Ward 350 in Tehran’s Evin Prison to begin his three-year prison sentence for “gathering and colluding and promoting Christianity”. Rasoul was one of dozens of Christians arrested by security forces across Iran on Christmas Day 2010. He was released on bail in March 2011, and now, more than two and a half years later, he returns to prison to begin his three-year sentence. He joins fellow Christian Farshid Fathi in Ward 350. Farshid is serving a six-year sentence, having been arrested a few weeks before Rasoul. Many hoped that with the arrival of Hassan Rouhani as president, the pressure on religious minorities and prisoners of conscience would be reduced. But experts and human rights activists have not yet noticed a change in approach. Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights on Iran, has said that he has twice written to Rouhani, requesting permission to travel to Iran, but has not yet received an answer. Quoting the contents of this article in part is permitted. However, no part of it may be used for any fundraising appeal, or for any publication where donations are requested. Share and spread the word!FacebookTwitterTelegramLinkedInWhatsAppEmailPrintMoreRedditTumblrPinterestPocket