Christian Convert Transferred to Evin Prison's Ward 350; Two Christian Bloggers Arrested

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

IRAN (ANS) -- Mohabat News says human rights sources are reporting that an Iranian Christian convert, Rasoul Abdollahi, has been transferred to Ward 350 of Evin Prison to serve his three year prison term.

In the meantime, as part of a new wave of arrest of bloggers and cyber-activists, Revolutionary Guard authorities arrested two Christian bloggers.

On Dec. 4, an Iranian senior judicial authority said that intelligence forces in Revolutionary Guard identified 16 Internet activists in Kerman who were in contact with foreign agents.

Abdollahi, an Iranian Christian convert, accused of "collusion against the government and evangelism," had earlier been sentenced to three years in prison.

Mohabat reported that Abdollahi had also been arrested during an organized raid on a Christmas celebration on Dec. 26 2010 in Tehran.

This raid resulted in the arrest of a number of other Christians including Farshid Fathi. Fathi was kept in prison for 15 months without any official charges, and then sentenced to six years in prison. He is currently serving his term in Evin Prison's Ward 350.

According to a report by the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, Revolutionary Guard authorities on Dec. 4 arrested two Internet acti vists/bloggers; Kiavosh Sotoudeh and Jamshid Jabbari, in front of Kerman University. They were taken to an unknown location.

There are no updates available on the reason for these arrests.

Mohabat News said media state that these two Internet activists have ties with house church and evangelistic groups.

There was news recently that indicated a new Revolutionary Guard campaign to crackdown on internet activists.

Mohabat News said in addition, Fars News agency, which is supported by the Revolutionary Guard, reported that Intelligence agents of the Revolutionary Guard have arrested several Internet activists.

An intelligence authority told Fars News that these individuals are accused of cyber crimes, desecrating Islamic holy figures, and contact with foreigners. He also claimed that they were part of a complex security media network.

Other reports also indicated an escalation in the arrest of reporters, religious dissidents, student and political activists.

For more information about Mohabat News visit www.mohabatnews.com