Farshid Fathi was arrested on Dec. 26, 2010 in a wave of arrests of
believers in Tehran and other areas. Of the 22 believers arrested by
security forces in Tehran, 10 were released after intense questioning
and after they signed agreements to refrain from Christian activities.
Eleven others were also later released. By the end of April, 2010, only
Farshid remained in prison, though his family had paid an enormous bail
sum. He spent nearly a year in solitary confinement.
Farshid, a Christian convert from Islam, was charged with "acting
against national security through membership of a Christian organization, collection of funds,
propaganda against the Islamic Regime by helping spread Christianity in
the country,” and sentenced to six years of imprisonment on March 5,
2012. Though the charge is for his Christian work, authorities tried to
cast his activities as political offenses.
Farshid’s appeal against the charges was rejected in June 2012. He is due to serve the rest of his sentence in Evin Prison.
According
to Elam Ministries, Farshid is a shining beacon for Christ in Evin, so
much so that the son of an Iranian ayatollah commented on Farshid's
sweet nature in a YouTube video. The two shared a cell. The man remarked
on how beloved Farshid is among the inmates. Elam described Farshid as
“a man after God’s own heart.”
Farshid is married to Leila, and
has two children, Rosana and Bardia. Pray that they will be comforted
during this time. Pray for steadfast endurance, deep Godly peace and for
protection for Farshid in prison. Pray he will remain a shining light
in prison and pray for his release."
www.prisoneralert.com
www.persecution.com
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