Arrest of “Somayeh Rajabi,” Christian Citizen in Babylon
“Somayeh Rajabi,” a Christian citizen, was arrested on Thursday afternoon in Babylon.
According to published reports, security personnel from the Sepah intelligence office in Babylon raided a garden in the city of “Gitab,” a suburb of Babylon County, on Thursday afternoon, Bahman 18, where Christian citizens had gathered for worship. Somayeh Rajabi was arrested and transferred to prison.
According to reports released by some of those present at the gathering, approximately eighty Christians participated in this assembly, which was met with inappropriate conduct by the intelligence officers following the raid. The Sepah officers confiscated all Bibles, musical instruments used for worship at the location, and digital devices belonging to these citizens.
The officers also forced those present at the gathering to provide personal information and passwords to their mobile phones. Following body searches, they dealt harshly with those wearing cross necklaces and tore them off. They also prevented medical assistance for the injured.
One day after her arrest, Somayeh Rajabi informed her family through a brief phone call that she had been transferred to a prison in Sari. However, to date, no accurate information about the charges against her is available.
The arrest of Christians in Iran occurs while, according to Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.”
Unfortunately, Christians in Iran have been subjected to harassment, persecution, oppression, arrest, and torture from the past to the present. Many arrests go unreported due to threats to families and remain hidden. Many have faced substantial fines and lengthy prison sentences, yet no news of them is released.
