Iranian Police Attack Pre-Christmas Celebration

Posted on December 25, 2009 by admin

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Iranian Police Attack Pre-Christmas Celebration

By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C.
(ANS) – A human rights organization has learned that on Dec.17, security police and undercover officers raided a Christian worship gathering and arrested two of the group’s leaders in Karaj, Iran.

According to a news release from International Christian Concern (ICC), Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) reported that Iranian security police and plain clothes officers raided a group of more than 70 new believers, interrupting pre-Christmas celebrations.

Group leaders Kambiz Saghaee and Ali Keshvar-Doost were arrested and are currently held at an unknown location. Their families have not been contacted by the men, and they are very concerned for their well-being.

ICC said everyone at the gathering was photographed. They were told that formal interrogations will occur, and to comply when summoned before prosecutors. Bibles, Christian books and other materials were confiscated by the security officers.

The Christians were gathering in preparation for Christmas just prior to the assault. ICC said its sources indicated that this raid is only one of many that have occurred before the holidays.

“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,” reported FCNN.

Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said in a news release, “The Iranian government severely restricts religious freedom. ICC is highlighting this particular incident as one of many occurrences that have taken place, demonstrating Iran’s ongoing trend of executing severe tactics of brutality toward Christians and other religious minorities. Iran has adopted the strategy of eliminating any potential challenge to its sovereignty and to Islam.”

He added, “Christianity’s growth is seen as a threat and is being targeted for elimination by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s tyrannical regime. ICC strongly condemns Iran’s brutality and requests the immediate release of Kambiz Saghaee and Ali Keshvar-Doost, that they may celebrate Christmas this year with family, and not from a prison chamber.”

ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide.

For more information go to www.persecution.org

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master’s degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is “Now You See Me.”

Additional details on some of Reynalds’ previous books are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 400-7145.