By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
IRAN
(ANS) -- With
so much attention focused on Iran's presidential election, there was
"minimal" media coverage of the recent conviction of six Christian
believers.
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The
four men were found guilty of attending a house church, spreading
Christianity, having contact with foreign ministries, propaganda against
the regime and disrupting national security. Each was sentenced to
three year and eight months in prison.
In
addition, Mohabat News reported, Homayoun Shokouhi and Mojtaba
Seyyed-Alaedin Hossein were sentenced to eight more months in prison.
Fariba Nazemina and her 17 year old son, Nima Shokouhi, each received a two year suspended prison sentence.
Mohabat
News said the sentence these individuals received is what is known as
an "initial" one, meaning they have 20 days to appeal the ruling if they
wish.
Mohabat News said after this ruling was made, all contact with these individuals is lost.Mohabat News said the sentences were handed down while headlines focused on the Iranian presidential election.
Mohabat
News commented, "It seems that the Iranian Intelligence organizations
have been actively pursuing their intentions during the past one and a
half months of presidential election activities to pressure non-Muslim
Iranians (in) the most severe form possible. With people and media so
much engaged in elections, this time is a golden opportunity for Iran's
Islamic regime to resume religious minority cases."
In
another story of persecution, Mohabat News said the agency earlier
published a story about the critical health condition of another
Christian prisoner, Vahid Hakkani. He has internal bleeding in his
digestive system.
Mohabat
News said reports indicate that the judicial authorities of Fars
province have not taken action to alleviate the problem, and Hakkani's
situation is worsening.
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