09/27/2018 Iran (International Christian Concern) – Sevada Aghasar, an Iranian Christian imprisoned based on a conviction of violating national security and illegal house church activities, has requested conditional release from Evin Prison. The prosecutor has not yet responded. Aghasar is serving a five-year sentence with an anticipated release of 2019.
Most Christians imprisoned in Iran are charged with violating national security. This vague charge “justifies” the involvement of the Intelligence Ministry and their narrative that Christians are inherently against the government. It is common for this charge to be couple alongside charges of planting house churches and distributing Christian propaganda.
It is also common for Christians to serve their sentence in Evin Prison, Iran’s most notorious jail. The Intelligence Ministry runs shadow wards inside Evin, making it impossible to hold the authorities accountable for their human rights violations of prisoners. Many Christians imprisoned there report having experienced or witnessed extreme mental and physical torture, in addition to their desperate living conditions.
For interviews with Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.
