Release International

Release contacts say they are increasingly concerned for two Christian couples imprisoned in Iran and are calling for prayer and advocacy on their behalf.

Pastor Vahik Abrahamian and his wife Sonia Keshish-Avanesian were with their friends, Arash Kermanjani and his wife Arezo Teymouri, when all four were detained on September 4.

The two couples, who are close friends, were arrested at the Abrahamians' home in Hamadan, west Iran, and taken initially to the Ministry of Islamic Guidance prison.

For the first 40 days, they were held in solitary confinement and reportedly suffered physical abuse and psychological pressure. Pastor's wife Sonia, who was pregnant when she was arrested, is said to have suffered a miscarriage – her fourth.

The couples, who are now being held in Hamadan prison, are reported to have been accused of various offences, including propagating Christianity, opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran, and having contact with exiled opposition figures.

Release contacts have expressed concern about the couples' well-being – and about their prospects for justice. They are now asking Christians in the West to write polite letters of concern to the Iranian authorities, asking for their immediate release.

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.

(Sources: Release contacts)

Pray
• Pray for the immediate release of these four Christians from Hamadan. Ask God to comfort and heal them after their ordeal – and bless their ministry.
• Pray for a change of heart among Iranian officials who appear to equate home-based churches with a threat to national security.

Act
• Read more about Vahik, Sonia, Arash and Arezo's case in our February 2011 Prisoners of Faith Alert at: http://www.releaseinternational.org/media/download_gallery/Prisoners%20of%20Faith%20Alert%20February%202011.pdf
• Write a polite letter of concern to the Iranian authorities, asking for the four Christians' release. A sample letter and contact details for the Ayatollah Khamenei are given in the Prisoners of Faith Alert (see above). Please do not mention Release International in your letter. If you have already written one letter, please consider writing another to any of the following:
The Prison Warden, Hamadan Central Prison, Tehran/Hamadan road, 5th km to Hamadan, Voroudi Bahram Abad, Islamic Republic of Iran.
His Excellency Ayatollah Heydar Moslehi, Ministry of Justice, Panzdah-Khordad Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
His Excellency President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Subscribe today for free to Release's Prisoners of Faith Alerts at: www.releaseinternational.org/pages/contact-form.php
 

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