Christian prisoner Maryam Naghash Zargaran has been denied unconditional release by an Iranian court at the request of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS).
Maryam, who was granted medical furlough for a range of health issues in June 2016, returned to Evin Prison, Tehran on 27th June to continue serving a four-year prison sentence on charges of “acting against national security”.
Maryam had previously been arrested in January 2013 in connection with her work on an orphanage with the Christian ex-prisoner Saeed Abedini.
On 5th July 2016 Maryam started a hunger strike to demand her “immediate and unconditional release” in view of the inadequate treatment of her health issues. Prison officials examined Maryam on 20th July and provided a medical report confirming the seriousness of her condition.
It is reported that Maryam’s request was considered and denied by an Iranian court and the reason given for rejecting her demand was that MOIS did not want her to be freed.
Twenty days into her hunger strike Maryam‘s health continues to deteriorate, to the concern of her family and friends. Prison medical staff say that her blood pressure is very low, she has pains and numbness in her feet – possibly early signs of Multiple Sclerosis – and that she is suffering psychologically as a consequence of her imprisonment.
Open sources: Mohabat News, Human Rights Activists News Agency
MAY BE CIRCULATED TO GENERAL MAILING LISTS, OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS, AND QUOTED FROM FREELY CITING “MIDDLE EAST CONCERN” AS THE SOURCE OF THE INFORMATION.
Prayer points
Those close to Maryam request our prayers that:
a. Maryam will know God’s encouragement, healing, strengthening and wisdom during these difficult days
b. the Lord will comfort Maryam’s family
c. those responsible for blocking Maryam’s request for unconditional release will have a change of heart, and that Maryam will be released from prison soon
d. God will move the Iranian authorities and officials to love mercy and act justly
