Arrest of Lida Aleksani, wife of Joseph Shahbazian
"Lida Aleksani", the wife of "Joseph Shahbazian", a Christian citizen imprisoned in Evin Prison, was arrested.
Reports published today, April 29, indicate the arrest of the wife of prisoner of conscience Joseph Shahbazian on April 14.
On April 14, 1404, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence, along with a female agent, raided the home of this Armenian couple. The raid on their home came three months after Joseph Shahbazian had been imprisoned in Evin Prison. After searching their home, the agents seized their personal belongings and then arrested his wife, Lida Aleksani, and transferred her to Evin Prison.
Her arrest came a day before the funeral of Joseph Shahbazian's mother (Jasmine) while they were busy preparing for the ceremony. Lida's arrest at this sensitive time has added to the emotional and psychological pressure on the family.
Joseph Shahbazian had previously spent a year in prison for peaceful religious activity and was arrested again in February 1403 by the Ministry of Intelligence. Despite the fact that three months had passed since his arrest and that bail of 499 million Tomans had been set for him, he is still in temporary detention. It should be noted that Joseph Shahbazian was held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for about two months and was then transferred to Andorzgah 4.
The charges against him are "propaganda against the system," "propaganda 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," which Joseph Shahbazian, while rejecting, declared to be baseless and lacking legal documentation. He is also denied access to a lawyer of his choice.
After arresting Mr. Shahbazian, security agents tried to contact his friends so they could build a case against him. One of the individuals said about the agents’ contact: “They tried to coerce us into cooperating by using bribery or threats. They asked us to say untrue things against Brother Joseph so they could build a case against him. The interrogator threatened that if we did not cooperate, they would resume the unfinished investigation against us.”
The repression, crimes, harassment, persecution, arrest, torture, and issuing heavy sentences by the Islamic Republic are endless. In order to remain on the throne, it uses pressure, threats, force, and false filings, especially psychological and political pressure, against prisoners of conscience and political prisoners and their families.
David Smith, the British Special Representative for Freedom of Religion or Belief, also stated in the annual report of Christian organizations on the situation of Christians in Iran in the British Parliament: "There are few countries in the world that are as deprived of religious freedom as the Islamic Republic of Iran."
