Page 18 - Voice of the Persecuted Christians - Oct-Dec 2022 - 120

IRAN
AIranian Christian denied parole
Prisoner of faith being held behind bars ‘as a deterrent’ to other believers
Pleas for parole by Naser Navard Gol- Tapeh have been consistently rejected
During his imprisonment, Naser has written several open letters querying why belonging to a house church was deemed an ‘action against national security’.
n Iranian Christian prisoner of Naser is eligible for release on parole, faith has been denied parole having served well over a third of his for a fifth time, reports Release sentence, but all requests for either
International partner Article 18. parole or a reduction in his sentence
Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh, who
celebrated his 60th birthday on His lawyer, Iman Soleimani, says he August 3, has been in Evin prison has been told that Naser is being held since January 2018, serving a 10- as a ‘deterrent’ to other Christians, year sentence for ‘acting against and that it is believed that to release
‘Is the fellowship of a few Christian brothers and sisters in someone’s home, singing worship songs, reading the Bible and worshipping God acting against national security?’ he asked in one letter.
national security by establishing house churches’.
him ahead of time would send out the wrong message.
Naser was arrested in 2016 when intelligence police agents raided an engagement party at a house in Karaj near Tehran. Everyone present was detained, including three visiting Christians from Azerbaijan. Most were released after questioning
Naser has suffered several health issues during his incarceration and was recently sent for an MRI scan after losing hearing in his left ear, which also affected his balance and led to a number of falls.
As a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran has a binding obligation to respect and protect the right to religious freedom, including the freedom to choose or to change one’s beliefs.
and collection of their personal information, but Naser and the Azeris were transferred to Evin. Some sources suggested that Naser was not released as he was older than the others in the group and was perceived as the leader.
His elderly mother recorded an emotional plea on video a year ago for
• Please pray for Naser’s release and that he will be able to be reunited with his elderly mother
have been denied.
The four Christians were held in solitary confinement for two months and subjected to intense interrogation. During this time, they were denied consular assistance and legal counsel. They were all charged with ‘illegal gathering, collusion and evangelism’. In October 2016 they were temporarily released on bail equivalent to approximately £25,500 each. The three Azeris – Bahram Nasibov, Yusif Farhadov and Eldar Gurbanov – were allowed to leave Iran the next month, forfeiting their bail.
her son, who is her primary carer, to be returned to her side, but he remains in prison.
‘He has done nothing; he
only became a Christian’
Nasser has appealed for a retrial on three occasions, but each time his request has been denied.
Having been led to believe he would be granted parole, he had encouraged his mother he would soon be able
to return to her. But their wait to be reunited goes on.
On his 60th birthday, his mother called for her son’s release, saying: ‘He has done nothing; he only became a Christian’.
Find out about other prisoners of faith
and how you can help them on our website: woocommerce-1195296-4229685.cloudwaysapps.com/ prisoners-of-faith
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