Increasing pressure on Christian converts in Iran
In recent weeks, there have been other reported cases of arrests and security clashes with Christians attending house churches by the Islamic Republic. Most of the arrests were reported in Tehran, Karaj, and Shiraz.
It is reported that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani and his wife were temporarily detained and released on the same day after the Islamic Republic's intelligence agents raided their home in Rasht.
The Christian Solidarity Worldwide website, citing its sources, wrote that the raid on Nadarkhani's house was reportedly one of a series of incidents targeting about 10 Christian homes.
The report added that three other Christians, who were also arrested on Friday, are still in custody.
The aforementioned Christian website continued that it was learned that "Yaser Mosayebzadeh" was arrested during the raid on the house of Pastor Nadarkhani, and that agents of the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic summoned "Saheb Fadaei" and "Mohammad Reza Omidi" to their offices by phone before raiding their homes.
The pro-Christian website added that their Bibles, computers and mobile phones were reportedly confiscated.
The report noted that this was not the first time these individuals had been arrested, and then described the arrests, imprisonments, and sentences issued against them over the past years.
According to reports, Christian converts in the Islamic Republic are being threatened and intimidated on charges of apostasy.
At the end of its report, the Christian Solidarity Worldwide website quoted its executive director, Mervin Thomas, as saying that although they are relieved by the release of Pastor and Mrs. Nadarkhani, they remain deeply concerned about the situation of Yaser Mosayebzadeh, Saheb Fadaei, and Mohammad Reza Omidi, who are still in detention.
He added that the government must be held accountable for the persecution of the Iranian Christian community, especially the ongoing raids on homes and repeated arrests, which are baseless, and continued to call on the Islamic Republic to fully respect its obligations to its constitution and international human rights by ensuring justice and equality before the law for all citizens regardless of their religion or belief.
Source: Radio Farda
