Arrest of ‘Nasser Nordgoltapeh’ and ‘Joseph Shahbazian’

‘Nasser Nordgoltapeh’ and ‘Joseph Shahbazian’, Christian citizens and former political prisoners, have been arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence.

According to published reports, on Thursday, the 18th of Bahman, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence raided the homes of Nasser Nordgoltapeh and Joseph Shahbazian, Christian citizens in Tehran, and after their arrest, transferred them to Evin Prison.

They remain in detention, and Mr. Goltapeh has begun a hunger strike in protest of the illegality of his detention. In addition to their arrest, several other Christians were simultaneously detained in Tehran and remain in custody, but information about their identities has not yet been disclosed, and no specific charges have been presented for their arrest.

Mr. Shahbazian, who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for peaceful religious activity, had his sentence overturned in the Supreme Court in Esfand 1401. In Khordad 1402, the Tehran appellate court reduced the original sentence from 10 years to 2 years. He spent approximately two years in Evin Prison and was ultimately released in September of last year (1402), with prison authorities stating that he had been pardoned.

The charges against him were ‘action against national security through membership, management and establishment of an evangelical Christian house church and creation of a group aimed at undermining the country’s security.’ This occurs despite the Islamic Republic government’s claim that Christians, including Armenians and Assyrians in Iran, enjoy religious freedom and the practice of religious ceremonies. However, if they share their faith with Persian-speaking Christians, they face severe suppression.

Mr. Goltapeh, who had been sentenced to ten years in prison since 1396 on charges of ‘establishing and managing a house church,’ was released from prison in Mehr 1401 after serving approximately 5 years of his sentence. After repeatedly having his sentence reduction rejected, he was eventually granted conditional release after serving 5 years of his sentence.

Human rights organizations have also repeatedly expressed concern about Nasser Goltapeh’s health condition in prison and called for his release.