Release International

Friends and family of a Christian father-of-two are calling for clarity on his case more than five months after he was detained in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.

Farshid Fathi, 32, has endured months of solitary confinement even though 'no court orders or instructions have been issued in his case', according to Christian news agency Mohabat News.

Farshid was detained by government security officials on December 26th, 2011, in a series of raids on homes in Tehran. His wife and two young children – Rosana and Barbod – have only been allowed to speak to him once a week.

Mohabat News reports that interrogators have been using psychological torture to force Farshid to reveal details of other Christian contacts. The news agency also says that Farshid was first detained briefly and released – but was immediately re-arrested and transferred to solitary confinement in the 209th wing of Evin prison where 'political prisoners' are held.

Farshid's family have reportedly been forced to sell his father-in-law's home to survive this ordeal financially. The family have been unable to afford to post bail to secure his release.

Scores of Christians were arrested in Tehran and other cities in a spate of raids initiated in December (Prayer Alert, January 6, 2011). According to Mohabat, more than half of these detainees were released within a few hours, making Farshid's detention unusually long.

Pressure on Iranian house churches appears to have increased since Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, branded home-based churches a new threat to the regime in a speech last October.

(Source: Mohabat News, Release International)

• Pray for the immediate release of Farshid Fathi. Ask God to heal and restore him and his family during and after this ordeal.
• Pray for an end to the Iranian authorities' clampdown on Christians. Pray that the church in Iran will keep their focus on God and stand firm in their faith.

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