Two Christian citizens transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht
HRANA News Agency – Ahmad (Youhanna) Sarwar and Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh, two Christian citizens, were transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht. Morteza Hajeb Mashhoud Kari, another Christian citizen, was also arrested on May 10 and transferred to this prison.
According to HRANA news agency, citing Mohabat News, Ahmad (Youhanna) Sarwar and Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh, two Christians living in Rasht, were transferred to Lakan Prison in the city.
These citizens were arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in their homes on Sunday night, May 8, 2022. Also, Morteza Hajeb Mashoudkari, a Christian citizen living in Rasht, was arrested on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, after going to the city's prosecutor's office and transferred to Lakan Prison.
According to the report, Iman Soleimani, the lawyer defending these Christians, said: "These people are 'banned from contact' and 'banned from solicitation' and are not allowed access to a lawyer. The families of these citizens have repeatedly referred to Branch 4 of the Investigation Department and have been informed that the case is in the preliminary investigation stage and that a lawyer cannot enter at this stage."
Ayoub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh, Ahmad (Yuhanna) Sarwar, and Morteza Hajeb Mashhudkar were sentenced to 5 years and 1 day in prison and 180 million rials in cash fines by the Rasht Revolutionary Court in April of this year on charges including “forming a house church, propagandizing against the regime, and having relations with Zionist missionaries and the Branhamist sect abroad.” Their appeal hearing will be held on June 2nd at Branch 18 of the Gilan Provincial Court of Appeal.
Behnam Akhlaqi and Babak Hosseinzadeh also have a history of arrest and conviction. They, along with seven other Christians, were sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh. In March of last year, Branch 34 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal acquitted these citizens of the charges.
Ahmad (Yuhanna) Sahabi, 25, Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh, 28, and Morteza Hajeb Mashhoud Kari, 38, are Christian believers and residents of Rasht. Behnam Akhlaqi and Babak Hosseinzadeh are also members of a house church called the "Church of Iran" in the city of Rasht.
It is worth noting that despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority by law, the security services follow the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal with activists in this field with force.
The treatment of Christians in Iran is taking place despite the fact that, 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 their religion with conviction, as well as the freedom to manifest it, individually or in community with others and in public or private.
Source: HRANA
