Iranian Christians request prayer after Revolutionary Guard agents arrested at least twelve Christians in three different cities.
It is believed an informant gained Christians’ trust, infiltrated their network and helped Iranian security identify particular individuals and raid a meeting in a private home.
On 30 June, in Tehran, security agents raided the home of a Christian convert, where about 30 Christians had gathered. The security agents, who filmed the raid, were initially respectful, but once the cameras were switched off, the mood abruptly changed and they reportedly became abusive.
The Christians were taken to the parking area where a list of names was read out. Those present from that list were handcuffed, blindfolded and taken away. They are: Joseph Shahbazian, an Armenian-Iranian Christian, and Christian converts Reza, Salar, Sonya, and sisters Mina and Maryam.
The security agents confiscated the mobile phones of all others present and made them provide contact details.
They then went to the houses of those on the list from Tehran and Karaj, searching for Bibles, other Christian literature and electronic communication devices.
Three more converts (Arash and two men called Farhad), also on the list, but not present at the gathering, were arrested at their homes, which were searched.
In a related security action, also on 30 June, agents called three Christian converts (Sohrab, Ebrahim and Yasser) in Malayer, Hamedan Province, and summoned them to the Revolutionary Guard intelligence office for questioning the next day. However, all three were arrested before they could turn themselves in. They were detained, then released on bail of 30 million tomans (around $1,500) each on 2 July.
Prayer Points
Iranian Christians request prayer that:
- God will strengthen and encourage those who were arrested – some are recent converts
- Those arrested in Tehran and Karaj will be released soon on bail
- Iranian authorities will not pursue those discovered at the meeting, but not already on the list, and that confiscated possessions, such as mobile phones, will be returned
- Iranian authorities will stop treating Christian gatherings as threats to national security and respect the right to freedom and belief of Iranian citizens, allowing them to express that freedom through fellowship
Open source: https://articleeighteen.com/news/6311/
