Release of three Christian citizens from Lakan Prison in Rasht
Three Christian citizens have been released from Lakan Prison in Rasht and will serve the rest of their sentences outside prison.
Ahmad Sarwar (Yuhana), Ayub Pourrezazadeh (Farzin), and Morteza Hajeb-Mashavkari are three members of a house church in Rasht who were arrested in Farvardin 1401 for their peaceful religious activity and each sentenced to five years in prison. The individuals have now been allowed to be released from prison and serve the remainder of their sentences outside of prison.
These three Christian citizens were convicted under Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code on charges of "deviant missionary and educational activity contrary to the holy law of Islam" through the formation of a house church, a law that the UN Human Rights Committee called for the government of the Islamic Republic to amend or repeal.
The aforementioned citizens, whose release is conditional, must report to Lakan Prison in Rasht from 7 a.m. to around 5 p.m. after their release from prison to work in a factory located nearby.
It should be noted that, according to reports from "Article 18," at least 106 Christians were arrested following attacks by security forces on Christian homes and house churches in various cities last summer, and at least 4 of them are still in prison, and many have been sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of religious activity.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to publish news about the victims of the attacks, their families, and the relevant house churches, due to the safety of their lives.
