Arrest of Two Christian Converts in Urmia

Mansour Borji, spokesperson for the Article 18 Committee associated with the Council of Coordinating Churches in London, told Radio Farda on Friday that Anousheh Razabakhsh and Soheil Zargarzadeh, Christian converts, were arrested about two weeks ago in the city of Urmia. Mr. Borji added that this Christian mother and son were detained at their home by plainclothes agents of the IRGC in Urmia, and the reason for their arrest has not yet been disclosed. According to the Mohabat News website, which covers news related to Iranian Christians, these two individuals have no prior history of arrest. The site reported that 'Soheil Zargarzadeh is a fourth-year psychology student, and eyewitnesses say that during the arrest, security forces removed many of his books and notes from the house, including several copies of the Bible and theological materials.' Since the 1979 Revolution, several church leaders in Iran have been killed, and hundreds of Christians have been interrogated and imprisoned. Printing the Bible in Persian has been banned, and some churches have been closed, with restrictions placed on church ceremonies. In early Azar, 19 human rights organizations issued a joint statement calling on the international community to end the harassment of Christian converts in Iran. In this context, there are concerns about the health of Maryam Naqash Zargaran, a Christian prisoner. Three Christians in Iran were released after 45 days; uncertainty remains for two other prisoners, raising concerns about the health of two detained Christian converts in Evin.