10th November, 2015
Religious freedom advocacy Christian Solidarity Worldwide has expressed concern for 13 Iranian Christians arrested in the city of Varamin, south east of Tehran.
The UK-based organisation said agents from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence arrested 13 people – most of whom were previously members of the Emmanuel Protestant Church in Tehran, which was forced to close in 2012 and to end its Farsi language services – following a raid on a house church. Another person who wasn’t at the gathering but who was also a member of the church was arrested at their home in Tehran.
CSW said that since their arrest, the group’s whereabouts are unknown.
Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of CSW, said the group was "extremely concerned" at the arrests and said the fact that their whereabouts remain unknown "gives rise to concerns regarding their wellbeing".
"These people had merely gathered peacefully and had not partaken in any illegal activities," he said. "It is unacceptable that the Iranian authorities continue to harass the Christian community without cause."
CSW have urged the Iranian Government to ensure those arrested are released without delay and reiterated their call for Iran to uphold its human rights obligations.
The organisation noted that despite President Rouhani’s reputation as a moderate, there had been no improvement in human rights and that political opponents, journalists, activists and members of religious minorities continue to be imprisoned, with converts to Christianity and members of the Baha’i faith being particularly targeted.
Recent years have also seen a spike in executions with more than 1,000 people executed since 2014.
– DAVID ADAMS
