A Christian convert who has been in prison for 17 months completed his prison term on January 13, 2015, but has not been released yet, as he waits for the judge to issue his release order.
Mohabat News – Ebrahim Firouzi is a Christian convert who has been arrested several times for his Christian activities. In his last appearance in court on July 13, 2013, he was sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile to the remote town of Sarbaz, in Sistan and Baluchestan province for propaganda against the Islamic regime, Evangelism, connection with enemies and "anti-regime networks" abroad, and starting a Christian website.
The sentence was given to him for his earlier accusations. Therefore, taking into account the number of days he has been detained, his prison term should have been over on January 13, 2015. However, he is still being held in prison.
In the meantime, another case has been opened for him in branch 28 of the Revolutionary Courts for "propaganda and action against national security", but so far his judge has refused to deal with this case.
An individual close to Ebrahim Firouzi told Mohabat News, "The judge has issued a 200 million Toman bail (approximately $73,000 USD) for Ebrahim's release, but when his family went to post the bail, they were rejected".
The individual, whose identity cannot be disclosed for security reasons, added, "Last January Ebrahim Firouzi was taken to a court where he denied all accusations. The judge told him since you denied your accusations, you will need to wait for the prosecutor to appear at the court with you".
It is now a year after that court appearance, he has never been called to court again.
Mr. Firouzi is currently being held in Ward 10 of the Rajaei-Shahr prison in Karaj, together with another Christian prisoner, Farshid Fathi.
In another incident, the authorities at Rajaei-Shahr prison held a Christmas celebration for the inmates and intentionally prevented Christian prisoners from attending the celebration which was held in the Central Hall of the prison.
It is evident that the pressure on Iranian Christian prisoners continues and is a clear example of the Islamic regime's systematic violation of Human Rights. In this regard, the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom listed Iran as a country where religious freedom is being "seriously" violated and warned that the situation is getting worse in the country.