Iranian Christian Prisoners Separated into Different Wards in Karaj Prison

Prison authorities of Karaj’s Central Prison have separated Christian prisoners into different wards to prevent any sort of contact between them.

Mohabat News – Iranian Human Rights activists report that authorities in Karaj’s Central Prison have transferred Christian prisoners into different wards to prevent them from any contact with one another.

“Behnam Irani, Hossein Saketi Aramsari, Reza Rabbani (Silas), and Abdollreza Haghnejad”are the four Christian prisoner being held in Karaj’s Central Prison for faith-related accusations.

Before this change, Behnam Irani, Hossein Saketi, and Reza Rabani were being held in Ward 7. However, following a ruling effective Saturday, August 2, Reza Rabani was transferred to Ward 8.

In the meantime, Abdollreza Haghnejad, who had just been transferred to Karaj’s Central Prison last week, was sent to Ward 10 immediately upon his admission to the prison.

This ruling with respect to separating Christian prisoners contradicts the Iranian rules for separation of criminal categories.

Hossein Saketi Aramsari, who is known as Stephen among his friends, is a Farsi-speaking Christian convert. Judge Assef Hosseini, in Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, sentenced him to one year in prison for evangelism.

The other prisoner, Behnam Irani, is one of the leaders of a non-Trinitarian group who call themselves “Church of Iran”. He is currently serving his six year sentence in Karaj Prison.

Reza Rabbani (Silas) is also a non-Trinitarian Christian. Three intelligence officers raided his house on May 5, and arrested him. He was later transferred to Karaj’s Central Prison.

The last Christian prisoner in Karaj Prison, Abdollreza Haghnejad, is also a member of the non-Trinitarian group. Security authorities arrested him in his house on July 5.

Christianity is growing rapidly in Iran, especially in recent years. This has escalated persecution, and inhumane treatment of Christian converts as well as other religious minorities in the country.

Persecution of Iranian Christians has reached its peak in the last three years, resulting in numerous arrests and imprisonments. The Islamic government of Iran raided many house-churches and closed down almost all official Farsi-speaking churches in Tehran and other cities across the country. It seems the Iranian government is determined to do everything in its power to stop the growth of Christianity among Iranians.