By Michael Ireland, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
(ANS - TEHRAN, IRAN, Jan.16., 2015) -- As
the US Secretary of State meets his Iranian counterpart in a bid to
revive stalled talks over Iran's nuclear program, human rights experts
are keen that issues of freedom of religion are not overlooked,
according to World Watch Monitor (WWM).
In a recent report, WWM says
this week, the UK Foreign Office has said that it's raised its concern
with the Iranian government over the arrest and detention -- in Iran's
notorious Evin prison -- of the former leader of the Assyrian
Pentecostal Church in Tehran, as well as two others, whose whereabouts
remains unknown.
WWM says the 60-year-old pastor
Victor Beth Tarmez and the two Christian converts who were his guests
were arrested when Iranian state security agents raided Tarmez's home
during a Christmas celebration he was hosting on the evening of December
26; the gathering was considered to be "unauthorized and illegal."
Mansour Borji, from the
Article18 committee of the Hamgaam ('taking steps together' in Dari)
Council of Iranian churches told World Watch Monitor that Tarmez' family
is concerned for his health as he's a diabetic. Borji also said details
of the actual charge on which Tarmez is detained are still unclear.
Borji told WWM that Tarmez was
forced to speak Farsi with his family on a very brief phone call from
prison, instead of using their shared native language Assyrian, so that
guards could monitor what was said.
The British Foreign Office has
written: "The UK government is deeply concerned?by the Iranian regime's
ongoing persecution of religious minorities -- including Christians. ...
The UK and the international community expect Iran to live up to the
right to freedom of religion and belief as set out in the Article 18 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."
WWM
reports that, according to Mohabat News, an Iranian Christian news
site, the agents temporarily arrested all 14 in the house at the time.
Then they filmed all the detainees, forcing them to "introduce
themselves to the camera and say why they were there and why they
thought they were being arrested" and then asked them to "fill out an
eight-page form printed on papers with the logo of the Ministry of
Intelligence." Among those arrested were Christian converts with a
Zoroastrian [ancient Iranian religion] background, who refused to fill
out the forms arguing that this was a written interrogation and could
result in a criminal record for them. They said they had not broken any
law and should not be subject to interrogation."
The agents also confiscated the
pastor's belongings including his computer and Bibles. They also
searched the guests, seizing their identification cards and mobile
phones.
Pastor Tarmez has been repeatedly intimidated since 2009.
Tamarz is an Assyrian pastor
officially recognized by the Iranian government; until 2009, he also
worked as General Superintendent in Shahr-Ara Assyrian Pentecostal
Church.
He had been holding
Farsi-speaking services for years at Shahr-Ara. Then, in March 2009, the
Assyrian Member of the Iranian Parliament Yonathan Betkolia announced
that, by order of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, the church would be
closed because it offered a Farsi-language service attended by converts
from Islam.
WWM reports that while the church was temporarily closed after Tarmez refused to stop Farsi-language services, it was later re-opened (after he had been demoted from leadership) with a new church leader, and services continued in Assyrian only.
WWM reports that while the church was temporarily closed after Tarmez refused to stop Farsi-language services, it was later re-opened (after he had been demoted from leadership) with a new church leader, and services continued in Assyrian only.
The number of Assyrian Christians in the country is estimated at between 10,000 and 20,000.
Since 2009 Tarmez has continued his religious activities.
Borji told WWM that 2009 was
the start of government pressure against churches which hold
Farsi-language services. (Most recently, WWM reported on the closure in
May 2013 of the Assemblies of God church in Tehran).
Borji explained to WWM: "Over
the past five years, we have witnessed arrests of several Christians and
Christian converts during Christmas holidays: the government is very
sensitive about these days... Also in the last 5 years, seven churches
that offered worship services in Farsi language were closed down or
forced to cease their Farsi services."
More arrests of Iranian Christians were made by authorities over Christmas. WWM said.
Borji also confirmed to WWM
that eight other Christians were arrested on Christmas Day at a house
church in Tehran province and have since been transferred to an unknown
location.
They are Mehdi Kian, Ali Sadraddin, Mohammad Kazemi, Azin Faroudi,
Mohammad Hossein Moridian, Maryam Narimani, Alireza Nasiri and Brother
Matin.
Another organization, Middle
East Concern, reported that over the Christmas period a total of 24
arrests of Christians were recorded, although it added that, separately,
five other Christians have recently been released from prison, some on
bail and with conditions. One, Amin Khaki, had been held since March
2014.
Iran ranks No. 7 on the 2015 World Watch List, two positions higher than the previous year.
WWM explained the list ranks
the 50 countries where living as a Christian is most difficult, and is
created annually by Open Doors International, a worldwide ministry to
Christians who live under pressure because of their faith
Open Doors said the ranking
changed because of an increased deteriorating situation for Christians
in Iran. It says "According to the Iranian state, only Armenians and
Assyrians can be Christian. Ethnic Persians are by definition Muslim,
and, therefore, ethnic Persian Christians are considered apostates. This
makes almost all Christian activity illegal, especially when it occurs
in Persian (Farsi) languages -- from evangelism to Bible training, to
publishing Scripture and Christian books, or preaching in Farsi."
World Watch Monitor reports the
story of Christians worldwide under pressure for their faith. Articles
may be reprinted, with attribution.
Photo: Pastor Victor Beth Tarmez
Photo: Assyrian Brothers Church, Patrice Lumumba Street,Tehran
Photo: Pastor Victor Beth Tarmez
Photo: Assyrian Brothers Church, Patrice Lumumba Street,Tehran
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