Photo via fcnn.com

Concern over the condition of new Christian at Evin Prison

The security agents, while arresting a newly converted Christian in the city of Varamin, threatened his family against saying anything to either domestic or foreign media groups otherwise the condition of their detained loved one would become worse, reports FCNN.

According to the news received by the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN), on Thursday April 29, 2010; security agents visited the home a Christian man, Ali Golchin, who resides in the town of Varamin and arrested him, and after searching his home and seizing many of his personal belonging, took him away to an undisclosed location.

Ali Golchin is a 29 years old, Farsi-speaking young man, who has been a loyal Christian for many years. The security agents, after his arrest and removal from his home, threatened his wife and parents that they must keep quiet and avoid any contact and reporting of this incident to the news media, otherwise the condition of their loved one would become much worse.

The secrecy surrounding the whereabouts of this Christian man caused a great deal of worry among his family and relatives, which despite repeated appeals to the authorities for any information, were not given any credible responses.

This report indicates that, despite more than 40 days of detention, the only contact between Ali and his loved ones has been a few brief phone calls that seem to indicate the he has been kept in a solitary confinement all this time.

Even though Ali's wife and parents have not succeeded in visiting him at the prison, the brief phone calls that have been made by Ali from the prison clearly show that he is not in a good physical and mental state.

From the time of his arrest and detention, now more than 40 days, there have been no formal charges and specific reasons for his arrest and detention filed with the court. According to some documents, however, this arrest and detention seems to be related to his Christian faith and the ongoing and increased repression of the Christian community at large.

According to FCNN, the intelligence and security operatives often place the arrested and detained Christians under severe and stressful conditions for weeks and months, and often in solitary confinement, to force them into confessing and revealing vital information that the government is seeking regarding the growth and the expansion of Christians and churches in Iran.

The committee of Christians at the Human Rights Activists of Iran expresses its deep concern regarding the ongoing detention, especially in a solitary cell, and the restrictions that have been imposed regarding prisoner visitations and lack of access to legal counsel and furthermore it demands that the appropriate authorities disclose all relevant information as to Ali's arrest and the nature of his charges and facilitate the release of this innocent man.

It is noteworthy to mention that last Christmas the security agents, in a similar operation, arrested 12 members of a home-based church who had assembled to worship and celebrate Christmas and transferred them to the Evin Prison. All of the detainees except 3 were released shortly after, but the 3 remaining spent more than 80 days in detention. They were released shortly before the arrival of No-Rooz, the traditional Persian New Year.

SALE! 40% OFF! How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week

TAGS: Iran persecution Evin Prison anti-Christian violence repression Ali Golchin

[06/13/2010]

Print Version