Iranian Pastor Transferred to Hospital in Prison Uniform

ICC Note:
A pastor arrested for his Christian faith in Iran was taken to a hospital from his prison cell to receive much needed dialysis treatment. “Eye-witnesses reported that the Christian pastor, who has served the Christian community for more than 17 years and is in a critical health condition,” Mohabat News reports.
12/31/2012 Iran (Mohabat News) – Rev. Vruir Avanessian was taken to a specialized clinic for his routine dialysis, dressed in prison uniform and accompanied by several guards. He was then transferred back to the Evin detention center.
According to Mohabat News, Rev. Vruir Avanessian, an Armenian Iranian pastor, was taken to a local hospital from his prison cell at Evin detention center to receive much needed dialysis treatment and was later transferred back to the prison.
The 60 year old pastor was taken to Shahid Hashemi-Nejad hospital’s dialysis wing located in the Vanak area of Tehran, accompanied by several prison guards, while the local weather was extremely cold and he was escorted wearing only a thin prison uniform, without any proper clothing. He was subsequently returned to the prison after the completion of the much needed medical procedure.
He was allowed a brief visit with his wife, Rima Avanessian, at the hospital.
Eye-witnesses reported that the Christian pastor, who has served the Christian community for more than 17 years and is in a critical health condition, was taken to hospital to receive treatment, wearing a uniform that is unique to convicted/officially charged criminals.
This has happened while the presiding chairman of the Social Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s parliament declared in a recent report that Iranian prisons are like hotels and contrary to other countries, the Islamic Republic treats even the convicted criminals with dignity and respect!
Rev. Vruir Avanessian was treated as a convict, although he has not been charged with any crimes and has not been informed of the reasons for his arrest. Also, he was transported to the hospital in prison uniforms that are designated for convicted criminals.
Sources indicate that the health of this 60 year old pastor is not satisfactory at all and the ongoing detention, given the current condition of detention centers and prisons in Iran, could pose a grave danger to the frail Christian leader.
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