Two Christians Released on Bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht
Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarparast and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood Kari, two Christians, have been released on bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht. Despite the release of these two citizens, Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh remains in custody. These three citizens were arrested by security forces on the 14th of Shahrivarmaah.
According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Human Rights Activists Movement in Iran, Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarparast and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood, two convert Christians, have been released on bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht.
Despite the release of these citizens, Ayub Pourrezazadeh, another Christian, remains in custody.
Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarparast, Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh, and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood Kari were arrested by security forces in Rasht on Sunday, the 14th of Shahrivarmaah 1400. Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarparast and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood Kari informed their families on Saturday, the 27th of Shahrivarmaah, through a phone call about their transfer to Lakan Prison in Rasht.
It is reported that the relatives of these citizens have been threatened by IRGC Intelligence officers regarding the disclosure of information about their loved ones’ condition. Furthermore, one of their relatives and other members of this house church have been summoned to the IRGC Intelligence Office in Rasht and interrogated.
Ahmad (Yohanna) Sarparast is 25 years old, Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh is 28 years old, and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood Kari is 38 years old. They are Christians and residents of Rasht.
It should be noted that although Christians are recognized as a religious minority under law, security agencies pursue the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and employ coercive measures against activists in this field.
The 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 thought, conscience and religion, and the freedom to change religion or belief, and the freedom to manifest such religion or belief individually or in community, in public or in private.
Source: Hrana
