Arrest of Four Christian Believers by Security Forces in Rasht

Last night, Behnam Akhlagi, Babak Hosseinzadeh, Ayoub (Farzin) Pourrazazadeh, and Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarparast, Christian believers residing in Rasht, were arrested by IRGC intelligence officers at their homes and transferred to an unknown location. Security forces were unable to arrest Morteza Hajab Mashhur Kari due to his absence from home.

According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the human rights activists collective in Iran, on Sunday night, 18 Ordibehesht 1401, Behnam Akhlagi, Babak Hosseinzadeh, Ayoub (Farzin) Pourrazazadeh, and Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarparast, Christian believers residing in Rasht, were arrested by IRGC intelligence officers at their homes and transferred to an unknown location.

Security forces were unable to arrest Morteza Hajab Mashhur Kari due to his absence from home. Iman Soleimani, the defense lawyer of this Christian citizen, told Hrana in this regard: “They had telephonically informed him that if he did not report to the IRGC intelligence organization, he would be arrested. When Mr. Hajab Mashhur Kari reported to the prosecutor’s office, it became clear that a new case has been opened for them in Branch 4 of the prosecutor’s office. The families of the remaining citizens have also been without news of them since their arrest, which has caused them concern.”

Behnam Akhlagi and Babak Hosseinzadeh had previously been arrested and convicted. They, along with 7 other Christian believers, were sentenced to 5 years in prison by Branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghisseh, but last March, Branch 34 of Tehran’s Court of Appeals acquitted these citizens of the charges against them.

Ayoub (Farzin) Pourrazazadeh, Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarparast, and Morteza Hajab Mashhur Kari were also sentenced by the Rasht Revolutionary Court in Farvardin of this year on charges including “establishing house churches, propaganda against the system, contact with Zionist proselytizing agents, and affiliation with the Baha’i sect outside the country,” each to 5 years and one day in prison and a fine of 180 million rials. Their appeal hearing is scheduled for 2 Khordad in Branch 18 of Gilan Province’s Court of Appeals.

Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarparast, 25 years old, Ayoub (Farzin) Pourrazazadeh, 28 years old, and Morteza Hajab Mashhur Kari, 38 years old, are Christian believers and residents of Rasht. Behnam Akhlagi and Babak Hosseinzadeh are also members of a house church called “Church of Iran” in the city of Rasht.

It is worth noting that although Christians are officially recognized as a religious minority under the law, security agencies pursue the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal forcefully with activists in this field.

Source: Hrana