Two Christian Converts from Sardasht County Arrested
In recent days, Shirko Siavashi and Mahdi Ebrahimzadeh, Christian converts from Sardasht County, were arrested by security forces and transferred to an unknown location.
Hrana, the news agency of the Iranian Human Rights Activists Network, reported that on Saturday, September 1, 2020, a Christian convert was arrested by security forces at his residence in Sardasht County and transferred to one of the detention facilities of the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the county.
The identity of this citizen was confirmed by Hrana as “Shirko Siavashi, son of Mohammad, born in 1983, from Sardasht County.”
During the arrest, security agents searched the residence and confiscated some personal items belonging to Mr. Siavashi, including his laptop and hard drives, which they took with them.
Meanwhile, another Christian convert was arrested in Fars Province and transferred to an unknown location.
The identity of this citizen was confirmed as “Mahdi Ebrahimzadeh, son of Ebrahim, born in 1983, from Sardasht County.”
As of the time of this report, there is no accurate information about the charges against or the detention location of these citizens.
It should be noted that although Christians are officially recognized as a religious minority under Iranian law, security agencies pursue the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and use coercive measures against activists in this field.
The treatment of Christian converts 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, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Source: Hrana
