Temporary release of "Lida Aleksani", wife of Joseph Shahbazian
"Lida Aleksani", the wife of Joseph Shahbazian, was temporarily released on heavy bail after a month.
On April 13, 1404, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of Joseph Shahbazian and, accompanied by a female agent, arrested his wife, Lida Aleksani, and transferred her to Evin Prison. After searching their home, the agents confiscated some of the family's personal belongings.
Lida's arrest came three months after Joseph Shahbazian was imprisoned in Evin Prison. Joseph Shahbazian was arrested in February 2014 by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence, and had previously been imprisoned for a year for peaceful religious activity.
He was initially held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 for about two months and then transferred to Andarzgah 4. Although a bail of 499 million Tomans has been set for his release, he is still temporarily detained in Evin Prison. The charges against him are “propaganda against the system and missionary activity contrary to the holy law of Islam through the establishment and operation of a house church” and “acquiring wealth through illegitimate means through receiving tithes and gifts.”
Now, after a month of detention, his wife Lida Aleksani was temporarily released from prison on Tuesday, May 13, without the reason for her arrest or the charges against her being clear. She was released on a very heavy bail of four billion tomans.
The Islamic Republic regime has repeatedly used the detention of family members of imprisoned Christian citizens as a tool of psychological and political pressure against prisoners of conscience. Amnesty International also presented several reports earlier this month on the alarming situation and widespread and systematic violations of human rights in Iran.
