ICC Note:
Ehsan Behrouz was released on June 16 after eight months in prison, including 105 days in solitary confinement in Iran, Mohabat News reports.
7/9/2012 Iran (Mohabat News) – A Christian convert and university student who was arrested after plain clothes Intelligence agents arrested him, spent 105 days in solitary confinement out of eight months' imprisonment in the worst mental conditions.
According to reporters of Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News," Ehsan Behrouz was eventually released in June 16, 2012 after eight months in prison while his family were unaware of his situation.
Ehsan Behrouz, is 24 and resides in the extremely religious city of Mashhad. He had been arrested for a second time after security authorities from the Intelligence Ministry of Khorasan-e-Razavi province contacted him and called him over on October 23, 2011. There, he was arrested and transferred to an unknown location. This happened while his family and friends were unaware of this second arrest for a long time.
Knowledgeable sources told « Mohabat News » that Ehsan Behrouz spent 105 days of his eight months' imprisonment in solitary confinement in a custody center of the Intelligence office in Mashhad. He suffered many mental and physical difficulties during his time in solitary confinement and was deprived of basic rights of prisoners such as being allowed to contact and/or visit his family or talk to a lawyer.
Mr. Behrouz was studying Management in the University of Mashhad. Although one month had passed since the start of classes when he was arrested, he was not allowed to attend classes. Thus, his continuing education is also at great risk. Because he was absent from school while in jail, it is also a matter of concern that the university board refuse to have this Christian convert return to school or even deprive him of pursuing his education.
In an earlier case, another Christian convert and university student, Ms. Fatemeh Nouri, was sentenced to one year deprivation of education, after security authorities arrested her in her home in east Tehran and kept her in Evin prison for three months.
In its latest effort to crack down on Christian converts and stop the growth of Christianity in the country, the Islamic regime of Iran is applying the experience it gained through its efforts to repress Baha'is, as it increases the pressure on Christians, especially those with Islamic backgrounds.
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