Two weeks after the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (sepah) arrested a number of Christian converts in various cities of Iran, there is no news on their condition and their fate.
Based on a report by Iran Human Rights Watchdog Network, Friday 16 October 2015, 9 members and activists of domestic churches in Shiraz were arrested and detained by IRGC, their condition still unknown.
Based on the report, Brother Edward, Hossein Karimi, Maryam Fahimi, Mohammadreza Farmani, Milad Shahabi, Farhad Nikoei, Zahra Khakrah, Nasir Ahamad Safi (Afghanian) and Sina Namvar, were arrested by IRGC Intelligence Agents, taken to an unknown place.
Immediately after the arrest, Iran’s state media quoted sources close to IRGC Intelligence, and published dozens of images of the Holy Book, Theological booklets, Christianity educational books, and CD that indicated items have been stored in a place, and were confiscated.
According to reports, after the arrest, houses of the arrests and their acquaintances’ were raid and searched, items such as Satellite Dishes, computers, books and CD were seized.
Concerns over the condition of those arrested increased since several of the family members’ attempts to reach out to the Security and Judiciary officials, had no results.
Latest reports indicate that family members of the arrests showed up in several judicial branches and demanded clarifications on their conditions and whereabouts but have been faced with authorities’ threats and violent conduct.
In recent years, and especially following the Islamic Republic’s leader and a few Shia referential clergies’ warnings, pressures have been increased on neo-Christians in Iran and there are dozens of Christians and Christian converts in prisons and detention centers of the IRI.
Print and distribution of Christians holy books in Farsi is banned, Protestant Churches have been closed, their religious ceremonies are banned.
Mohabat News website reports that “Article 18 Organization on Iran’s Christians’ Rights Advocacy” spokesperson, Mansour Borji said pressures on Protestant Christian, especially the Farsi speaking Christian converts has increased in recent months, and those newly converted, presently in jail with security charges are getting long-term imprisonment.
At present dozens of Christian converts and Evangelical Missionaries serve time in Islamic Republic jails and detention centers.
