The Reverend Behnam Irani was imprisoned in Karaj central penitentiary in 2006 because he was conducting prayer services and ministering to his Christian parishioners.
He was imprisoned several months for this before being released on bail.
In February 22, 2007, Behnam was given a 5 years suspended sentence after being accused of “acting against the national security” by the Appeal Court no. 30 (without clarification of what Behnam had actually done).
Subsequently, Intelligence officers raided to Behnam’s home in Karaj and after abusing him physically decided to arrest him.
Eventually, Behnam was sentenced to one year of pre-emptive imprisonment accused of “propaganda activity against the System” and therefore he was made to serve the previously suspended 5 years sentence.
The one year pre-emptive imprisonment was reduced to 8 months in the Appeal Court and now he is to serve his 5 years and 8 months in prison.
HRANA has been able to have access to a letter written by Behnam which is as follows:
“I , Behnam (D.O.B 23 Dec. 1969) from Iran have been in prison for two years accused of propaganda against the System. The arrest occurred in an armed raid by the Intelligence Service officers of our home during a church service. I was bashed by the officers and then having been handcuffed, and under intense control, was transferred to Intelligence Detention Centre of Rajai Shahr prison, known as ward 3.
I’m being imprisoned in Karaj Central Penitentiary located 35 km away from Tehran.
The following is not just about me but is very similar to what occurs to all Persian-speaking Christians or better to say all Iranian Christians.
My imprisonment by the Iranian Islamic regime is not just the incarceration of one individual, it is denial of freedom of a religious belief, of Christian thinking, of a belief, of religious free thinking. It is the imprisonment of the least human rights possible, it is an attempt to limit a God- given choice by which human being is able to choose and to be responsible for his choice in his God’s presence.
I’m imprisoned merely due to being a Christian believer and also due to worshipping God in a house of prayer, my own home, and ministering to other believers in the prayer service.
I believe my imprisonment is lacking any legitimacy and proper court responsibility to the people for fairness and justice.
It is contended that freedom of religion exists in Iran and religious minorities face no restrictions in the practice of their religion. If this claim is truly valid why is it regarded illegal to answer the questions of people asking about Christianity?
Why am I and people similar to myself under arrest in a jurisdiction that claims to hold religious freedom as a legal right for all?
Why have I been imprisoned to 5 years and 8 months?
How have I transgressed the limits of the law, if it be true that religious freedom exists in Iran?
I am married and have an 11-year-old daughter and a 5 year-old son but have not been able to attend to their emotional and mental needs for two years.
During a prison visit, my son called me ‘sir’ as he did not know me as his father saying, ‘Would you buy me a toy car sir’? He asked me ‘ Are you my father?’ . My wife burst into tears when she heard this.
Can we put a value on her tears? Can we put a value on the absence of a father from his son?
My daughter is reaching adolescence and at this age is when she needs fatherly support the most.
A few years ago, the Intelligence Service officers raided our place and started bashing me in front of my daughter and wife. This incident affected my daughter so much that for six months she hid her personal belongings to safeguard them from another likely raid and search by the Intelligence officers.
I am also wondering what emotional and mental damage will be done to the families of the imprisoned Christians.
How can the Islamic government make reparation for these damages?
I believe the human right commissions and organizations have not attended to this as vigorously as they could.
What is the price, of a wife and children deprived of their father’s presence?
How can I make up for the psychological and emotional pressure on my family and missed opportunities during my absence?
There are some human rights issues that are usually mentioned, e.g. I am not able to accomplish my social responsibility, the prisons overcrowded to the extreme; forty people are kept in a room 20 metre square, the prisoners are under psychological and mental pressure,the food and hygiene status is inadequate.
There are so many other issues that need attention and require a clear answer;
Firstly, why does the system claim to permit all religious, social, legal and cultural freedoms and opportunities, but at the same time bring followers of other religions, particularly Christian followers, under personal and family pressures? The religious society endures the same pressures and discrimination by a system that closely scrutinizes daily activities and intervenes in its every day affairs.
Unjust discrimination and deprivation by the system on the women and children of a family, my own family included, places a terrible burden on the innocent. Any penalty that I endure is compounded by the suffering of each member of my family. My wife and children endure personal disadvantage, mental suffering and social and religious denial of rights.
What is the price, now and in the future, of the denial of social, personal and spiritual rights?
I would appreciate it if you would decide what price my family has to pay, and if you have the moral courage announce it to the world.
HRANA News Agency