Relatives and friends request prayer for three Azeri Christians and an Iranian Christian who were arrested on 24th June and remain in detention in Tehran.
On Friday 24th June security agents raided an engagement party in Tehran attended by Eldar Gurbanov, Yusif Farhadov and Bahram Nasibov from “Word of Life” Church in Baku, Azerbaijan. Initially about ten people were arrested, but most were soon released. However Eldar, Yusif, Bahram and an Iranian Christian were taken away and remain in detention. Their whereabouts are unknown.
Since their arrest the Azeri detainees have been able to contact their families once or twice. They are being kept in solitary confinement, and consular officials from the Azerbaijan Embassy in Tehran have not been allowed to see them.
Eldar believes that they were set up and caught in a trap. As yet no charges have been brought against the detainees.
Their families and friends are obviously very concerned about the situation.
In more positive news, friends of Amin Khaki are delighted that he has been released from Ahvaz Prison.
Amin Khaki, along with Hossein Barounzadeh, Mohammad Bahrami and Rahman Bahmani, was among eight people arrested forcibly at a picnic in Shush on 5th March 2014. They each received a sentence of one year in prison for spreading Christianity in Iran.
Following a re-trial held on 1st February 2016, the sentences were upheld but the defendants were not immediately summoned to prison. Last month (June) all four Christians presented themselves at Ahvaz Prison to serve the remainder of their sentences. However, last week Amin was released, and he does not need to serve a previous suspended sentence of one year in addition to the most recent sentence.
Hossein Barounzadeh, Mohammad Bahrami and Rahman Bahmani still have four months left of their sentences to serve.
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Prayer points
Please pray that:
a. the three Azeris and the Iranian Christian will be released soon, and that God will bring peace and comfort to them and their families
b. no charges will be brought against the four men, and that officials from the Azerbaijan Embassy will be allowed to see them
c. Amin Khaki will adjust well to his freedom, and that no new charges will be brought against him
d. Hossein, Mohammad and Rahman will also be released, or know God’s peace as they serve the remainder of their sentences
e. all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him
