Morteza Hajab Mashhoud Kari, Christian Citizen in Rasht, Arrested

Hrana News Agency – Morteza Hajab Mashhoud Kari, a Christian citizen residing in Rasht, was arrested on Tuesday, the 20th of Ordibehesht, after reporting to the city’s prosecutor’s office and was transferred to Lakan Prison.

According to Hrana News Agency, the news organ of the network of human rights activists in Iran, on Tuesday, the 20th of Ordibehesht 1401, Morteza Hajab Mashhoud Kari, a Christian citizen residing in Rasht, was arrested and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

The arrest of Mr. Mashhoud Kari took place after he reported to the Rasht prosecutor’s office.

Security forces were unable to arrest Morteza Hajab Mashhoud Kari on Sunday, the 18th of Ordibehesht, as he was not at home. Iman Soleimani, the defense lawyer for this Christian citizen, previously told Hrana: “They had informed him by phone that if he did not report to the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC, he would be arrested. When Mr. Hajab Mashhoud Kari reported to the prosecutor’s office, it became clear that a new case had been opened for him in Branch 4 of the investigation section.”

In Farvardin of this year, Morteza Hajab Mashhoud Kari was sentenced by the Rasht Revolutionary Court to 5 years and one day in prison and a fine of 180 million rials on charges including “establishing a house church, propagating against the system, contact with Zionist missionary agents, and affiliation with the Banameh sect outside the country.” His court of appeal hearing is scheduled for the 2nd of Khordad in Branch 18 of the Gilan Province Court of Appeal.

It should be noted that although Christians are officially recognized as a religious minority according to law, security agencies pursue the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with special sensitivity and treat activists in this field forcefully.

Treatment of Christians in Iran occurs while, according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of religion and to change religion, with belief, as well as freedom to express it individually or collectively, publicly or privately.