Wife of Assemblies of God pastor was conditionally released from Sepidar Prison in Ahwaz.
(Mohabat News) According to Mohabat News, Mrs. Shahnaz Jayzan, Pastor Farhad Sabokrouh’s wife, was released on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, from women’s ward of Sepidar Prison in Ahwaz. She was the last prisoner from those arrested in a raid on AoG Church of Ahwaz.
Her release was conditional and happened three months before her prison term ended. She has to report to the Revolutionary Court of Ahwaz every four months.
According to reports received by Mohabat News, neither Mrs. Jayzan, nor her husband, Pastor Sabokrouh are permitted to hold church services or visit Christians in Khuzestan province. Also, they were told they should leave their hometown, Ahwaz. The Christian couple should now live against their will in Tehran.. Despite being an officially registered pastor, Iranian authorities have completely banned Pastor Sabokrouh from conducting any church-related activities or offering spiritual services.
Pastor Farhad Sabokrouh,after his release
In a pre-organized raid, Iranian authorities had arrested members of AoG Church of Ahwaz as they had gathered to celebrate Christmas on December 23, 2011.
All arrested members were released in a few hours, after brief interrogation and filling out forms which included their personal information, except Pastor Farhad Sabokrouh, his wife, Shahnaz Jayzan and two other church ministers, Naser Zamen-Dezfuli, and Davoud Alijani. They were charged with “converting to Christianity, Proselytizing Muslims, and propagating against Islamic regime by means of evangelism”.
Later, the Revolutionary Court of Ahwaz, sentenced all four Christian detainees to one year in prison. Davoud Alijani was summoned in writing to appear before the court in order to admitted to prison on May 1, 2013. The other three Christians received summons to appear before the Revolutionary Court on May 4, 2013, where they were transferred to Sepidar Prison the same day.
Before Mrs. Jayzan, Pastor Sabokrouh, Naser Zamen-Dezfuli, and Davoud Alijani had been released. Mrs. Jayzan was the only one in prison from this group of arrested Christians, who was eventually released after 272 days of imprisonment.
Iranian authorities strictly monitored activities of AoG Church of Ahwaz, before completely closing it down and arresting all of its congregation on December 23, 2011. Even being officially registered did not help to keep the church doors open.
Recently, Open Doors International released 2014 World Watch List, a list of 50 countries where Christians are being persecuted in various measures. Iran ranked 9 in the list, placing it among countries where Christians face “severe” persecution. Iran’s Islamic government severely restricts Christian activities, especially for Christian converts with Muslim background.
Article appears courtesy of mohabatnews.com
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