Two Christian Citizens Transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht

Hrana News Agency – Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarpardast and Ayoub (Farzin) Pourrazazadeh, two Christian citizens, have been transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht. Morteza Hajeb Mashhoud Kari, another Christian citizen, was also arrested on the 20th of Ordibehesht and transferred to the same prison.

According to Hrana News Agency, citing Mohabbat News, Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarpardast and Ayoub (Farzin) Pourrazazadeh, two Christians residing in Rasht, have been transferred to Lakan Prison in the city.

These citizens were arrested at their homes on Sunday night, the 18th of Ordibehesht 1401, by officers of the Sepah Intelligence Organization. Additionally, Morteza Hajeb Mashhoud Kari, a Christian citizen residing in Rasht, was arrested on Tuesday, the 20th of Ordibehesht, after visiting the city’s prosecutor’s office and was transferred to Lakan Prison.

According to the report, Iman Soleimani, the defense lawyer of these Christians, stated: “These individuals are ‘prohibited from visitation’ and ‘prohibited from contact,’ and are not allowed access to a lawyer. The families of these citizens have repeatedly visited Branch 4 of the investigative unit and have been informed that the case is in the preliminary investigation stage and the lawyer cannot enter at this stage.”

Ayoub (Farzin) Pourrazazadeh, Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarpardast, and Morteza Hajeb Mashhoud Kari were sentenced in Farvardin of this year by the Rasht Revolutionary Court on charges including “establishing a home church, propaganda against the system, connection with Zionist missionary agents, and the Banameh Sect outside the country” to five years and one day of imprisonment and a fine of 180 million rials each. The appeal hearing is scheduled for the 2nd of Khordad at Branch 18 of the Gilan Province Court of Appeals.

Behnam Akhlagh and Babak Hosseinzadeh also have a history of arrest and conviction. They, along with seven other Christians, were sentenced to five years of imprisonment by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court under Judge Mohammad Moghisseh, but this sentence was overturned by Branch 34 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals in the last month of the previous year, acquitting these citizens of the charges.

Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarpardast, 25 years old, Ayoub (Farzin) Pourrazazadeh, 28 years old, and Morteza Hajeb Mashhoud Kari, 38 years old, are Christian believers and residents of Rasht. Behnam Akhlagh and Babak Hosseinzadeh are also members of a home church called “Church of Iran” in the city of Rasht.

It should be noted that although Christians are recognized as a religious minority according to law, security agencies pursue the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal forcefully with activists in this field.

The treatment of Christians in Iran occurs while according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to change religion and the freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief, individually or in community, in public or in private.

Source: Hrana