Freedom for Two Christian Converts in Iran

ICC Note:
“The release of two Christians by the Islamic Regime is being viewed favorably by the Iranian-Christian community of believers in that country, and they are now demanding the urgent release of Farshid Fat’hi from Evin prison,” Assist News Service reports.
By Michael Ireland
7/24/2012 Iran (Assist News Service) – The release of two Christians by the Islamic Regime is being viewed favorably by the Iranian-Christian community of believers in that country, and they are now demanding the urgent release of Farshid Fat’hi from Evin prison.
Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) www.fcnn.com  reports the welcome news of release from prison of the two imprisoned Christians, Mr. Ehsan Behrouz, and Mr. Nour-ullah Ghobeytizade, has come as a pleasant surprise, and been met with great joy. The two had, for the past several months, been detained on spurious charges in Ahvaz and Mash-had prisons, respectively.
FCNN says the news of Ehsan Behrouz’ freedom, in Mash-had, was first received some three weeks ago, but in consideration of his family’s concerns in view of the unprecedented restrictions imposed by Islamic courts, and multicity of security services of the Islamic Republic, it was not published at the time. Ehsan was released, after seven months of solitary isolation, on Thursday, June 14, 2012.
FCNN says that reports show, not only was Ehsan kept in isolation, he was for the most part, not allowed any contact with, nor visits from his family. It was only in June that his mother was allowed to see him, whereas the distressed family had been promised his freedom since early April.
Ehsan, who is a 24 year old Mash-had University student, was first detained by agents of Ministry of Intelligence and National Security of the Islamic Republic, more than two years ago, while on a visit to Bujnord in northern Khorassan.
Along with other Christians from Mash-had, Ehsan had planned to join the local Christians in a united prayer and deepening meeting. The rest of the group were also detained and jailed along with Ehsan.
At branch 901 of the Revolutionary Court of Mash-had in Koh-Sangi Street, Ehsan was placed in prison for more than three months, before being conditionally released after payment of over USD$ 80,000, FCNN reported.
“His temporary freedom only lasted until November 2011, but constant and unrelenting surveillance and shadowing had turned him into a nervous and troubled young man,” FCNN said in a media update.
Ehsan suddenly disappeared in Nov.2011, and it was some weeks later when his re-arrest was confirmed by the Islamic Regime, FCNN said.
FCNN went on to say that reports from Ahvaz, in South Western province of Khuzestan, also confirm the release of the Christian convert, Mr. Nour-ullah Ghobeyti-Zadeh, from prison on July 16, 2012, after more than 18 months of captivity.
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