Arrest of “Ismail Narimanepur,” Christian Citizen in Dezful
“Ismail Narimanepur,” a Christian citizen, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Dezful during the Christmas period.
Ismail Narimanepur, a member of the “Church of the Message of Deliverance,” was arrested on Sunday, December 3rd, around 6 p.m. by agents from the News Bureau of the Ministry of Intelligence who raided his home in the city of Dezful. The Ministry of Intelligence agents, without possessing or presenting a search warrant, proceeded to search his house and confiscated a number of Christian books, a laptop, and his mobile phone.
According to “Article 18,” he briefly contacted his family yesterday and announced that he has been transferred to Ahvaz. “Article 18” reported in April 1400 (2021) that Ismail Narimanepur, Mohammad Ali Torabi, Alireza Varkshah, and Hojat Loftikhalaf were arrested in Dezful and in early May of the same year, after interrogation, they were temporarily released on bail with a commitment not to engage in Christian activities.
Although the Iranian Constitution prohibits the investigation of beliefs, Christian citizens have repeatedly been victims of investigation of their beliefs during interrogations by agents and court proceedings. It should be noted that in December 1400 (2021), the Fourth Branch of the Dezful Public Prosecutor’s Office and Revolutionary Court issued a decision to drop charges against eight Christian citizens, of whom Ismail Narimanepur was also a member.
In the ruling issued by the aforementioned prosecutor’s office, it was stated that “they merely changed their religion and did not conduct any propagandistic activities regarding groups opposed to the system, and considering that changing religion according to religious principles constitutes apostasy and will result in religious punishment and retribution in the afterlife, it is not criminalized in criminal laws, and the constitutional principle of legality of crimes and punishments prevents their conviction for apostasy.”
The Islamic Republic system, with the arrival of the Christmas period each year, closes house churches and arrests Christian citizens, intensifying pressure on them.
According to “Article 18,” the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution condemning widespread violations of human rights, including violations of minorities’ rights by the Islamic Republic, by majority vote. In the aforementioned resolution, it was stated that they are deeply concerned about violations of the rights of religious and sectarian minorities, including Christians.
