Re-interrogation of ‘Laleh Saadat,’ Christian Citizen, and Threats Against Her Mother
‘Laleh Saadat,’ a Christian citizen held in Evin Prison, has been subjected to renewed interrogation, and her mother has also been threatened due to her information sharing.
According to a report by the Iran Human Rights website, Laleh Saadat was transferred to Ward 209 of the Ministry of Intelligence eight days ago and was interrogated for a period by interrogators regarding the publication of her news by media outlets, her contact with another defendant in the case through her mother, and the means through which Laleh Saadat’s news was published in the media.
Laleh Saadat was arrested on the 24th of Bahman of last year when security forces raided her father’s residence in Tehran. On the 26th of Esfand, she was prosecuted by Judge Iman Afshari, head of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, on charges of ‘acting against national security’ due to Laleh’s religious activities related to her presence in house churches after her return to Iran and the contents of her mobile phone including documents and videos of her baptism ceremony in Malaysia and images of her other activities in a church in Malaysia. On the 6th of Farvardin of the current year, she was sentenced to two years in prison and a two-year ban on leaving the country on charges of ‘acting against national security through contact with Christian Zionist organizations.’
According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, Laleh Saadat’s mother had previously been threatened with the warning that if she confirmed the publication of news about her daughter to opposition websites, a legal case would be filed against her as well.
It is worth noting that Ms. Saadat was deprived of the right to choose a lawyer through the application of Note 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code by the judiciary, and her trial took place with the presence of a court-appointed lawyer. Additionally, according to published reports, she has been deprived of access to medical facilities and specialist examinations, which has intensified her concerns about her health condition.
Amnesty International has also stated in its report regarding violations of the rights of Christian citizens: ‘The Islamic Republic government has deprived many prisoners of access to necessary health facilities.’ Article 18 Organization has also repeatedly reported on the lack of access to medical facilities for imprisoned Christians, including ‘Mina Khajavi.’
Furthermore, many family members of Christian citizens who have no connection to house churches or Christian faith have been repeatedly summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence and subjected to threats and interrogation. These pressures on the families of Christian citizens are used as a tool for submission and pressure on Christian citizens.
