Latest Status of Two Christian Converts Imprisoned in Evin Prison

Nasser Nord Gol Tappeh, a Christian convert imprisoned in Evin Prison, is being denied necessary medical care. Mr. Nord Gol Tappeh is suffering from dental and oral problems, and Evin Prison authorities have so far prevented him from receiving the necessary medical treatment.

This prisoner of conscience has been serving his 10-year prison sentence in Ward 8 of Evin Prison since December 30, 2017. Additionally, according to another report, despite more than 19 months having passed since the arrest of Hadi Asgari, judicial authorities continue to refuse to accept bail for this Christian convert and his temporary release pending the appeal trial. If the case judge cooperates, this Christian citizen could be temporarily released from prison pending the appeal trial.

According to a report by Hrana news agency, citing Article 18 Organization, Iranian Christian convert Nasser Nord Gol Tappeh faces numerous problems and difficulties in his oral and dental area and requires urgent treatment. However, Evin Prison authorities, without considering the severe pain, gum infection, and physical condition of this Christian convert, have so far prevented him from receiving necessary medical care.

One of Mr. Nord’s relatives said: “If there is a delay in Nasser’s treatment process, there is a fear that he will completely lose his teeth.”

The issue of treatment and serious attention to the health condition of prisoners of conscience in Iran is very concerning.

Iranian Christian convert Nasser Nord Gol Tappeh has been serving his 10-year prison sentence in Ward 8 of Evin Prison since December 30, 2017.

“Nord Gol Tappeh” was arrested along with three Azerbaijani citizens on June 25, 2016 at a private gathering. “Eldar Qurbanov, Youssef Farhadov, and Bahram Nasibov” are members of a church called “Word of Life” in Baku. All four arrested Christians underwent interrogation in solitary confinement for two months and were eventually charged with “gathering and conspiracy in missionary activities.” After spending four months in prison, they were temporarily released on a 100 million toman bail. The three Azerbaijani citizens returned to their country and families after their release.

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Masallah Ahmadzadeh, held a trial on May 23, 2017 and sentenced this Christian citizen to 10 years imprisonment. The judge cited a report from the Ministry of Intelligence during the trial and described the charges as “action against national security through the establishment and launching of unlawful home church organizations.” However, the defendant and his lawyers were not given access to the relevant report, its contents, and the documents and evidence mentioned.

The Tehran Court of Appeal, headed by Judge Hassan Babaei, also confirmed the 10-year prison sentence for Christian convert Nasser Nord Gol Tappeh on Sunday, November 12, 2017.

Based on the World Watch List of Christian Persecution published annually by the “Open Doors” organization, Iran ranks 10th in the world. What places Iran among the worst countries in the world for Christians is the blatant violation of the rights of Iranian Christian citizens, especially those with an Islamic background, by the government of this country. Unlike most countries in the region, Christians and other people of Iran generally have peaceful coexistence with each other, and most reports of persecution and harassment come from the ruling system and institutions under its command.

The Article 18 organization’s website also reported in another news item about the rejection of bail for Hadi Asgari, a Christian convert, at the Revolutionary Court.

Despite more than 19 months having passed since the arrest of “Hadi Asgari,” judicial authorities continue to refuse to accept bail for this Christian convert and his temporary release pending the appeal trial.

One of this Christian convert’s relatives said: “Hadi had previously been unable to secure his heavy 170 million toman bail due to lack of financial resources. Now that this problem has been resolved and this bail has been secured with great effort, the case judge has delayed the bail payment process under various pretexts.”

In the Christian convert’s latest attempt before Nowruz, court authorities stated they would not address this matter until April 9. Thus, Hadi Asgari has been deprived of temporary release during the Nowruz holidays and being with his family at the beginning of the new year.

If the case judge cooperates, this Christian citizen (Hadi Asgari) could be temporarily released from prison pending the appeal trial.

Hadi Asgari was sentenced on July 3, 2017 in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran by Judge Ahmad Zadeh to 10 years imprisonment on the charge of “action against national security by establishing home churches and promoting Christianity.” He will also not have the right to leave the country for two years after serving his sentence.

Hadi Asgari, along with another Christian convert “Amin Afshar Naderi,” who has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, recently went on a hunger strike due to lack of attention to their cases in Evin Prison. Amin Afshar Naderi is currently temporarily out of prison on bail.

Hadi Asgari and Amin Afshar Naderi, along with 13 other citizens, were arrested on September 26, 2016 in Firouzkouh and spent 82 days in solitary cells in Ward 209. After that, these two Christian converts were transferred to Ward 4 of Evin Prison.

Despite Hassan Rouhani’s government claims and his emphasis on civil rights, the security approach, arbitrary arrests, suppression, and pressure on Persian-speaking Christians continue, and in the past year we have witnessed a new wave of violence and heavy prison sentences against Iranian Christians.

This is while Hassan Rouhani, in his slogans before coming to power and after forming the government, has repeatedly emphasized respect for civil rights and in this regard has also published a charter titled “Charter of Civil Rights.” However, these slogans have so far remained mere slogans!

Article 10 of the Charter of Civil Rights states: “Insulting, degrading, or creating aversion toward ethnicities and followers of religions, sects, and various social and political groups is prohibited.”

Article 99 of this charter also states: “Citizens have the right to access the necessary resources to participate in their cultural life and associate with other citizens, including establishing organizations, associations, conducting religious and ethnic ceremonies and cultural customs, in compliance with the law.

Article 26 of the Constitution explicitly emphasizes the freedom of activity of recognized religious minorities, and it states: “Political and professional parties, associations, and Islamic associations or recognized religious minorities are free, provided that they do not violate the principles of independence, freedom, national unity, Islamic criteria, and the basis of the Islamic Republic. No one can be prevented from participating in them or forced to participate in any of them.

Source: Hrana