Arrest of a Christian couple of Armenian nationality in Karaj

The "Article 18" organization announced the arrest of a Christian couple in Karaj who were Armenian citizens.

According to Article 18, a London-based organization that supports freedom of religion and belief, Hakob Gochoumian, who traveled to Iran with his wife, Elissa Shahroudian, and their two children to visit family, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents in late August of this year and remains in limbo four months later.

The human rights media outlet "Hengaw" also reported their arrest without authorization and in the presence of Ministry of Intelligence agents.

Elissa Shahvardian is the daughter of Rafi Shahvardian, an Iranian-American who immigrated to Armenia with his family 33 years ago. Her father, Pastor Rafi, was active in the Congregational Church in Iran and, after immigrating to Armenia, was a pastor in one of the Armenian churches, until he passed away this year.

Hakob Gochumian, Elissa Shahvardian, and their children traveled to Iran in July of this year. The family had traveled to Iran many times in the past to visit family, but their trip this year led to their arrest and detention.

Mr. Hakop and his wife Elisa, who had been invited to attend a party of an Iranian couple in Karaj with their 7- and 10-year-old children, were arrested in a raid by 12 Ministry of Intelligence agents on August 14. After searching the house, the agents also confiscated a number of Christian books and their personal belongings. They then took the Gochoumian family to the house of Ms. Shahvardian's grandmother, where they were staying, and searched it as well. After handing over the children to their grandmother, they transferred Ms. Shahvardian and Mr. Gochoumian to Evin Prison.

They were held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for several weeks and were subjected to severe psychological torture and multiple interrogations, each interrogation lasting five hours, according to reports under Article 18. In September of this year, Ms. Shahvardian was issued a release order with a bail of five billion, which was later reduced to two billion, and was finally temporarily released from prison on October 17, but her husband, Mr. Gochoumian, is still in Evin Prison, four months after his arrest, in limbo.

It should be noted that, contrary to international law obligations, the charges against them have not been officially announced and their lack of knowledge of their charges is a violation of Article 14, paragraph 3 (a), of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory. According to the aforementioned article, everyone has the right to be informed promptly, in detail and in a language which he understands, of the nature and cause of the charge or charges against him.

According to Ms. Elisa, they have not committed any illegal act that is contrary to the laws of the Islamic Republic, and her husband, Mr. Gochomian, has not engaged in any activity that is considered illegal by the Islamic Republic regime.

Christians have not done anything that would be considered against the system. After several months, they are still unaware of the charges against them.