On the eve of the soon-to-arrive Christmas and the Christian New Year security police and plain clothes officers attacked a gathering of Christian believers and arrested two of the leaders of the fellowship



21-Dec-2009 fcnn.com
According to the news received by the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN), Security police and plain-clothes officers attacked a gathering of Christian believers on Thursday, December 17th, and arrested two leaders and took them away to an undisclosed location.
According to the reports received 15 security police and undercover plain-clothes officers, in a coordinated plan, attacked a gathering in the city of Karaj and interrupted the pre-Christmas celebrations.
This celebration and gathering of more than 70 newly converted Christians, which was attacked by security forced, was being conducted in a hall on the occasion of the arrival of Christmas and the New Year.
The security police not only interrupted the celebrations, but arrested two of the leaders of the group named Kambiz Saghaee and Ali Keshvar-Doost and took them away.
Moreover, the security officers photographed and videotaped everyone and demanded that everyone must be accessible during the period leading up to formal and legal interrogations and must present themselves to the authorities upon receiving orders to appear before legal prosecutors.
This report adds that the security officers confiscated all the Bibles, other Christian books, and a lap top computer and its accessories.
According to FCNN, Kambiz Saghaee and Ali Keshvar-Doost, who were arrested by the police, are still held at an undisclosed location and there has been no phone or any other contact with their families and loved ones. The families of these detainees, due to not having any information about the state of their loved ones, have attempted on several occasions to contact the appropriate ministries and organizations. The local authorities have informally told these family members that their loved ones are being held at the facilities of the local revolutionary court and have withheld all other information from them.
It is highly unlikely that due to the month of Moharam, a month of mourning, any action would be taken by the authorities in reviewing the cases of these loved ones and most likely, matters will be postponed to a future date that would further delay all proceedings.
It is highly appropriate that as all Christians around the world celebrate the blessed day of the savior’s birth that we pause and remember those who are being persecuted for the name of Jesus and pray for their speedy freedom from detention and perseverance for the families of these loved ones.
This move by the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran clearly shows that Farsi-speaking Christians in Iran are deprived of their right to celebrate Christmas and welcome the Christian New Year. They are not free to celebrate these festive times with singing and worship of their Lord and Savior.
According to reports coming from many churches inside Iran that have been forced to shut down by the Islamic Republic of Iran, and have been given serious restrictions regarding the acceptance of new members, there are no other alternatives but to conduct these meetings and celebrations in secrecy and in underground settings, away from the watchful eyes of the security officers.

Comments

0 responses to "IRAN-Security Forces Attack A Pre-Christmas Gathering"