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IRANIAN CHRISTIAN PRISONER, FARSHID FATHI, GIVEN EARLY RELEASE DATE
Pastor Farshid Fathi in Iranian prison for Christian faith
KARAJ, IRAN (ANS – July 7, 2015) — Iranian Christian prisoner, Pastor Farshid Fathi, has been told the good news by prison officials, that he will be released on December 10, 2015. He had previously expected to remain in prison until December 2017.
“Farshid received the official notification on July 4, 2015,” said a spokesperson for Elam Ministries UK (www.elam.com). “This is positive news, which has greatly encouraged Farshid and his family. We join them in praising God for this development, and for those who have made it possible.
“Please continue to pray for Farshid during his final months in Rajai Shahr prison, Iran.”
Farshid Fathi is incarcerated in Iran’s brutal Rajai Shahr prison, just outside of Karaj, for the “crime” of practicing his Christian faith and ministry work, and he is being held in the same prison as Iranian-American Christian Pastor, Saeed Abedini, is being held and who is serving Saeed Abedini on an eight-year sentence for his Christian faith.
According to Elam Ministries UK, Farshid’s friends invariably have describe him as loving, cheerful, selfless and faithful, and always eager to help and serve others. He became a Christian at age 17 and has always been passionate about his faith. He is married with two young children, Rosanna and Bardia.
He was arrested at his home in Tehran on December 26, 2010, by agents of the Intelligence Ministry and initially was taken to the infamous Evin Prison in northwestern Tehran, where up until February 2011, he was held in solitary confinement and was subjected to long, harsh, interrogation sessions on a regular basis. Then for a year, he was held in a small cell with one other person in Section 209 of the prison where prisoners have been held both before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and where, due to the number of intellectuals that the prison housed, it was nicknamed “Evin University”.
Finally, on February 5, 2012, Farshid is brought to trial at Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, and is convicted by Judge Salavati of “action against the national security’, through cooperating with foreign organizations and evangelism”, and sentenced to a total of six years’ imprisonment. He is then moved to section 350 of Evin.
Then, on May 23, 2012, Farshid’s appeal hearing occurs and the following month, a verdict is issued: it upholds the verdict of the February court.
Because of the danger to themselves, Farshid’s family are soon safely resettled to Canada where they had been offered refuge, and on December 26, 2013, A Day of Prayer for Farshid was held around the world on the third anniversary of his imprisonment.
On August 19, 2014, Farshid was transferred to Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, for unknown reasons, and the following month, he spends his 35th birthday in the prison, and then on then on December 26, 2014, another Day of Prayer for Farshid was held on the fourth anniversary of his imprisonment, but during that month, he was hauled before the court and sentenced to a further year in prison on false charges and he lawyer applied to appeal.
But now has come the welcome news that he will be released on December 20, 2015, two years earlier than expected.
About Elam Ministries UK:
Elam was founded in 1990 by senior Iranian church leaders with a vision to serve the growing church in the Iran region. From the beginning, Elam’s passion was to train and equip Iranian Christians to reach and disciple their countrymen. In 1990 six emerging leaders arrived in England from Iran to begin their fulltime ministry training. They lived in a small, two-bedroom flat and used the kitchen as a classroom. Since then, Elam has seen many years of God’s faithfulness. By God’s grace, the ministry is growing and is being used to strengthen and expand the church in the Iran region in a significant way.
Iran: Closed Land, Open Hearts
Elam says that since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranians have become increasingly disillusioned with Islam. The political, economic, and spiritual situation in Iran has resulted in a deep spiritual hunger for truth. Iran may be a closed land, but the people have open hearts. Iranians today are seen as the most open Muslim people to the Gospel in the world. More have become Christians since the revolution than the previous 1,300 years put together.
Unprecedented Church Growth
In 1979, there were less than 500 known Christians from a Muslim background in Iran. Today the most conservative estimate is that there are at least 360,000 believers in the nation. Church leaders believe that millions can be added to the church in the next few years-such is the spiritual hunger that exists and the disillusionment with the Islamic regime. If we remain faithful to our calling, our conviction is that it is possible to see the nation transformed within our lifetime. Because Iran is a strategic gateway nation, the growing church in Iran will impact Muslim nations across the Islamic world.
By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries and the ASSIST News Service
VOP Note: Continue to pray for Pastor Fathi. And pray for the release of Pastor Saeed Abedini who is also being held in Rajai Shahr prison. May they shine God’s light in this dark place.
Christian Pastor Among 30 Prisoners Badly Beaten in Evin Prison Raid
Pastor Farshid Fathi in Evin prison for Christian faith
A Christian pastor is among 30 prisoners who were badly beaten during a raid in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison last week, when prison guards are said to have assaulted inmates who protested against an aggressive inspection.
“CSW is extremely concerned by the reported events in Evin Prison. The treatment meted out to these prisoners is unacceptable and is in clear violation of Iran’s obligations under article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which states that prisoners should be treated with humanity and with respect for their inherent human dignity. We call on the authorities to thoroughly investigate this incident, sanctioning those responsible,” Christian Solidarity Worldwide Chief Operating Officer Andy Dipper said.
According to the Christian watchdog group, Evangelical church leader Farshid Fathi, who is serving six years in prison for what it says are false political charges, suffered a broken foot and toe during the raid. At least 29 other prisoners were also reportedly wounded, with injuries ranging from fractured skull to broken ribs and limbs.
CSW’s Kiri Kankhwende told The Christian Post on Wednesday that initially there were reports that the Head of Prisons in Iran had been fired over the issue, but the group looked into it and found out that the reports were false.
Evin Prison has a reputation as one of the most brutal prisons in Iran and in the world. Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen, was initially kept there before being transferred to another prison in Iran to serve an eight-year sentence.
Iran Gives Christians 80 Lashes For Communion Wine as UN Blasts Human Rights Record
Four Iranian Christians were reportedly sentenced to 80 lashes for drinking wine for communion, a shocking punishment meted out even as a new United Nations report blasted the Islamic republic for its systematic persecution of non-Muslims.
The four men were sentenced Oct. 6 after being arrested in a house church last December and charged with consuming alcohol in violation of the theocracy’s strict laws, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide. They were among several Christians punished for their faith in a nation where converting from Islam to Christianity can bring the death penalty. According to a new October UN report by Ahmed Shaheed, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, such persecution is common, despite new President Hasan Rouhani’s pledge to be a moderate.
“At least 20 Christians were in custody in July 2013,” Shaheed wrote. “In addition, violations of the rights of Christians, particularly those belonging to evangelical Protestant groups, many of whom are converts, who proselytize to and serve Iranian Christians of Muslim background, continue to be reported.”
Iran’s regime has made stopping the spread of Christianity a cornerstone of its crackdown on religious freedom. There are estimated to be as many as 370,000 Christians in Iran, according to the most recent U.S. State Department report. The clerical rulers see Christianity as a threat to Iran’s majority ultra-orthodox Shiite Islamic religion.
“Despite the recent Iranian charm offensive, Dr. Shaheed’s report reminds us of the true nature of the Iranian regime where the abuse of human rights continue,” Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), chairman and founder of the Iran Dissident Awareness Program, told FoxNews.com. “Political prisoners like blogger Mohammad Reza Pourshajari are being denied adequate medical care, journalists and their families continue to be targets of the regime, Pastor Saeed Abedini and Amir Hekmati are still languishing in prison and the Baha’i community faces increasing persecution. This is the true nature of the regime we’re dealing with during negotiations in Geneva.”
Alireza Miryousefi,a spokesman for Iran’s mission to the UN, did not respond to requests for comment, but Iran’s government blasted Dr. Shaheed’s report as not objective. According to Iran’s state-controlled news outlet Press TV, an Iranian official from the UN mission said Shaheed “has not paid sufficient notice to Iran’s legal system and Islamic culture and considers whatever he sees in the West as an international standard for the entire world.”
Shaheed is widely considered to be one of the world’s leading authorities on human rights. He served as the minister of foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives.
“It should be no surprise that Iran’s human rights record as documented by the UN is nothing short of atrocious,” Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told FoxNews.com.
“If the regime thinks that its international charm offensive will help whitewash its appalling human rights record as documented by the UN report, they are sorely mistaken.”
The UN reported noted Iran’s “Authorities continue to compel licensed Protestant churches to restrict Persian-speaking and Muslim-born Iranians from participating in services, and raids and forced closures of house churches are ongoing…More than 300 Christians have been arrested since 2010, and dozens of church leaders and active community members have reportedly been convicted of national security crimes in connection with church activities, such as organizing prayer groups, proselytizing and attending Christian seminars abroad. “
On Monday, a retired California pastor, Eddie Romero, managed to sneak into Iran to demand the release of imprisoned Iranian Christians. Pastor Romero protested in front of Iran’s notorious Evin prison, declaring “Let my people go.” Prison officials detained Romero and he was sent back to the U.S. Romero sought to shine a spotlight on the plight of imprisoned Christian Iranians, including Farshid Fathi, the American-Iranian pastor Saeed Abedini, Mostafa Bordbar, and Alireza Seyyedian.
The four Christian Iranians sentenced to 80 lashes for violating Iran’s anti-alcohol law have ten days to appeal their verdict.
“The sentences handed down to these members of the Church of Iran effectively criminalize the Christian sacrament of sharing in the Lord’s Supper and constitute an unacceptable infringement on the right to practice faith freely and peaceably,” Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said.
Pleases continue to pray for our Christian family in Iran. And pray for the all Iranians who are being oppressed by the government.
Former ChinaAid volunteer taken into custody in Iran after protesting imprisonment of five Iranian Christians
While the church in America slumbers, Christians all over the world are being killed, tortured and falsely imprisoned for their faith. One man, a Hispanic pastor from Southern California decided he would try to bring the plight of Iranian Christians to the public’s attention.
Tehran—Oct. 21, 2013) A California pastor and former ChinaAid volunteer was taken into custody at Evin Prison in Iran at 12:30 a.m. CDT, Monday after a verbal protest against the detainment of five Iranian Christians.
Eddie Romero protested in English, Spanish and Farsi against what he says is the illegal detainment of Farshid Fathi, Saeed Abedini, Mostafa Bordbar, Alireza Seyyedian and Mohammad Ali Dadkhah. In his protest, he cited Exodus chapter eight, verse one: “…This is what the Lord says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship me.’”
Updates on Romero’s situation can be found on his website, exodus8one.org.
Romero conducted a similar protest before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and again in 2012 when China’s then-vice president Xi Jinping was visiting Los Angeles. ChinaAid reported on the second instance, which can be read here
ChinaAid asks Christians worldwide to join with us in prayer for Romero, his family and his church family. We pray that the Lord will protect Romero during his time in custody and for his safe and swift return. We also pray that the Lord will provide protection to the five Iranian Christians for whose release Romero petitioned and that a passion for the Lord will spread across the nation of Iran.
Guards Raid Cells of Christians in Evin Prison
Prison guards in Evin and Karaj raided cells of Christians being held there, damaging facilities and stealing personal belongings.
According to Mohabat News, early in the morning on July 18, 2013, one hundred and fifty prison guards in Evin prison raided ward 350, pulled prisoners from their cells, physically inspected them and began searching there. During their searching operation, the guards broke and stole prisoners’ belongings. Ward 350 holds mainly political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.
According to a message Mohabat News received from inside the prison, other than political prisoners’ cells, cells of Christian prisoners were raided as well. Christian prisoners held in that ward include Farshid Fathi, Mostafa Bordbar, Alireza Seyyedian and the American-Iranian pastor, Saeed Abedini. In addition to their personal belongings, prison guards damaged facilities in their cells, including cooling systems, electric wires, etc.
To carry out the attack, prison authorities in Evin prison requested support from Ghezel-Hesar prison. The operation was led by Mr. Ghobadi, Chief of Security of Evin prison. The guards used handheld scanners and also physically inspected prisoners’ bodies in a disrespectful fashion.
This sort of humiliating and aggressive attack is unheard of. The guards violated the prisoners’ privacy and searched their personal belongings which resulted in the loss of several items belonging to the prisoners.
It is worth mentioning that Christian prisoners in ward 350 of Evin prison are imprisoned merely for their Christian faith and no other offense. Farshid Fathi and Alireza Seyyedian were sentenced to six years in prison and Pastor Saeed Abedini was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment. All three of these Christian prisoners are serving their sentences. The other Christian prisoner, Mostafa Bordbar, is waiting for a verdict from his trial which was held earlier. He has been held in prison for eight months now.
– Prison Guards Raid Behnam Irani’s Cell in Karaj Prison
In this latest incident, Iranian authorities raided the cell of Behnam Irani, a prisoner of conscience, and his cellmates in Karaj prison, inspecting their cells and damaging their personal belongings.
As authorities raided his cell, Behnam Irani objected to their behavior. As a result, he was threatened to be put into solitary confinement. According to the report, such inhuman and violent attacks are often carried out against Mr. Irani and his cellmates. It is reported that his cell was raided 10 times in the past two months alone.
This is not the first time that prisoners of conscience have been harassed for insisting on their beliefs. The Islamic regime’s inappropriate and violent behavior towards these prisoners has been consistently criticized and condemned by Human Rights activists and the International Community.
It is noteworthy that Mr. Behnam Irani is a member of a non-Trinitarian Christian group who has been sentenced to six years in prison and is currently serving his sentence in ward two, hall seven of Karaj prison. Iranian security authorities had arrested him in his house in March 2010.
Another Christian Convert, Ebrahim Firouzi, Tried in Iran
(Mohabat New Agency) Another Christian convert, Mr. Ebrahim Firouzi was tried in the Revolutionary Court in Robat Karim, a town near Tehran. His charges were officially announced in the court session.
According to Mohabat News, the trial of Mr. Ebrahim Firouzi, a Christian who had been arrested by security authorities, was held on July 6, 2013 in Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Robat Karim. The court session was chaired by Judge Babaei.
Ebrahim Firouzi, who is 28 years old, was arrested on March 7, 2013, when four plainclothes security officers raided his workplace. When arresting him, security authorities also confiscated his personal belongings, including his computer and books related to Christianity.
After spending 53 days in custody, Mr. Firouzi was temporarily released from Evin prison after posting a 30 million Tomans (Approx. 15,000 USD) bail in the form of the title deed of a property.
After being arrested, he was transferred to ward 209 of Evin prison and was subject to intense interrogations for ten days. He was then transferred to ward 350 of the prison where other Christian prisoners, Saeed Abedini, Farshid Fathi and Mostafa Bordbar were being held.
According to the report, some agents from the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence were also present during his trial.
During the trial his charges were officially announced to him. He was charged with attempting to launch a Christian website, contact with suspicious foreigners, running online church services and promoting Christian Zionism.
Rejecting these charges, Mr. Ebrahimi declared himself innocent of promoting Christian Zionism and said these allegations against him are made up by security authorities and interrogators. Considering his objection, the judge decided that the indictment against him was defective. Therefore he postponed issuing his verdict.
At the same time all Mr. Firouzi’s identification documents were confiscated and he is effectively denied his normal social rights by not being able to have any kind of identification document.
Mr. Firouzi is a resident of Robat Karim, a town 20 kilometres south-west of Tehran. He lives in the same town as Sattar Beheshti, an Iranian labour activist and blogger, who was arrested and tortured to death by Iranian Cyber police, FATA.
It is worth mentioning that another Christian convert, Mr. Mohammad-Hadi (Mostafa) Bordbar was also tried on June 9, 2013 in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Mr. Bordbar is a Christian resident of Rasht who had been arrested on December 27, 2012 during a Christian gathering held to celebrate Christmas.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, that monitors religious freedom worldwide, mentioned in its annual report that Iran, together with 14 other countries, are the greatest violators of religious freedom around in the world. The annual report accuses Iran of frequent violations of the rights of religious minorities, of the arrest and harassment of religious minorities, and of creating an atmosphere of terror among these minorities. The Iranian Constitution clearly recognizes religious freedom and the rights of members of non-Islamic faiths. However, the Islamic regime of Iran fails to observe its own laws. Furthermore, the Iranian regime does not honor International conventions it has signed that requires all countries under the convention to provide religious freedom for their citizens.
IRAN:Prisoners Chained for Christ write letter to president-elect Hassan Rouhani
Dear Dr Rohani, the elected president of our dear nation,
Greetings, … We, the Christian prisoners, would like to congratulate your success in getting elected as our president and becoming the head of the law enforcement in Iran. We ask God’s wisdom and blessings upon you and your office. May your office, having such a delicate and sensitive role, by God’s help, bring honour and glory to our country Iran.
We pray that you may bring freedom of religion to religious minorities of Iran, especially Christians, freedom which would allow us to worship God, the creator of heaven and earth. We wish that we may not be prisoners during your office term, although being in prison just because of our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is an hour for us.
We pray that God’s fear would be in your heart and his wisdom and grace a light to your feet. May God’s grace help you to go through the challenging years ahead.
Best regards,
Farshid Fathi, Alireza Seyedian, Mostafa Bordbar
VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED 