Bail set at 3 billion Tomans for the release of Joseph Shahbazian, leader of the house church
The court has set a bail of three billion tomans for the temporary release of Joseph Shahbazian, a former member of the Tehran Congregational Church and house church leader, who was arrested three weeks ago, on July 10, during a raid by security agents on a Christian worship service in Yaftabad, Tehran.
When security forces raided a house church meeting in Yaftabad, Tehran, about 30 people were present, in addition to Mr. Shahbazian, 56. Article 18 confirms that at least 35 Christian citizens have been arrested, interrogated, or imprisoned following a coordinated raid by security forces on Christian homes in three cities, Tehran, Karaj, and Malayer, three weeks ago on July 10 and 11. According to some reports received by Article 18, the number of these Christian citizens is over 50.
Eyewitnesses say that some of the detainees were also beaten.
Currently, only Mr. Shahbazian is in custody. Of the Christians who were arrested on July 10 and 11, Farhad Khazaei, Salar Eshraqi Moghadam, and Mina Khajoui have each been released on bail of 1 billion and 200 million tomans. The bail for these individuals was set by the court at 800 million, which was increased to 1 billion and 200 million tomans when the bail was posted, taking into account “some additional expenses.”
At least thirteen Christian converts who were arrested for peaceful religious activity in Tehran, Karaj, and Malayer have been accused of "propaganda against the regime" and "acting against national security" through "membership in a Zionist Christian house church."
The Islamic government of Iran has repeatedly sentenced Christian converts to prison on similar charges without providing any evidence.
Initially, Shahbazian's family was told that a cash bail of 300 million tomans had been set for the temporary release of this Christian citizen.
When the Christian convert's family borrowed the money from acquaintances and deposited it into the account designated by the prosecutor's office, they were told that there had been a "mistake" and that the original amount was ten times the original amount, three billion tomans (about $150,000).
Last week, Masoumeh Ghasemi, the mother of Somayeh Sadeq (known as Sonia), another imprisoned convert, was arrested after going to court to inquire about her daughter's condition.
Both men were released on bail totaling one billion and one hundred million tomans (about $50,000).
According to Mohabat News, judicial authorities have also issued a bail of three billion tomans for the temporary release of Maliheh Nazari, a Christian convert. Due to the inability of the Christian convert's family to provide this bail, she remains in detention.
The bail set for Mr. Shahbazian and Malihe Nazari is the highest amount ever set for the temporary release of a Christian citizen imprisoned for their beliefs and religious activities.
Ms. Nazari is a Christian who has participated in a house church called "Yik Delan." This house church is for Christian women in Tehran. It seems that her arrest was made in this connection. Security officials have not yet given a specific reason for the arrest of this Christian convert.
Previously, the highest bail amount was 1.5 billion tomans (about $130,000) for a total of five Christian converts from the Rasht church. The court increased the bail for these Christian citizens tenfold to insist on their right to appoint a lawyer.
International organizations and institutions, including the United Nations, have repeatedly condemned the Islamic Republic for violating human rights and minority rights, and have reminded Iranian leaders that Iran is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The "Article 18" organization, along with several Christian organizations, recently submitted a new report to the UN Human Rights Committee, in which various aspects of the violation of religious freedom of Christians and other religious minorities in Iran were examined, citing numerous cases.
Source: DW
