News / Thoughts

Iran: Ask for their release!

The families of three imprisoned Christians in Iran have asked for your urgent help.

On Friday 24 June, Iranian security agents arrested Eldar Gurbanov, Yusif Farhadov and Bahram Nasibov along with seven others at an engagement party in Tehran.

Though the seven other believers were later released, Mr. Gurbanov, Mr. Farhadov and Mr. Nasibov – who had travelled from Baku, Azerbaijan, to celebrate the engagement – are still being detained without charges.

Mr. Gurbanov, Mr. Farhadov and Mr. Nasibov were taken to an unknown location in Tehran to be interrogated and have since been held in solitary confinement – only able to contact their families once or twice. They have not been allowed access to a lawyer, nor have they been allowed contact from their Embassy.

The families of the men, who are all married and have children, are asking us to pray and write to the Iranian authorities to appeal for the safe return of their husbands and fathers – our brothers in Christ.

Please email the Iranian authorities to appeal for their immediate release.

How can I do this?

To email the Iranian authorities, please copy and paste the draft letter (below) into a new email, compose a subject line, fill in your name and country at the end of the letter, and email it to the addresses provided (also below).

Here is a draft letter. Please do feel free to use this letter as it is; however, if you would like to edit it, we respectfully ask that you remain polite throughout, do not mention Open Doors, and do not write anything disrespectful about other religions or countries.

Your Excellency,

I am writing you to express my concern regarding the situation of three Azerbaijani citizens: Eldar Gurbanov, Yusif Farhadov and Bahram Nasibov. They have been detained in Tehran since 24th June 2016, when they were arrested at an engagement party. So far no charges have been filed against them. Their sole purpose was to visit friends in Tehran who had invited them.

Their wives and children are very concerned for their welfare.

In light of Article 14 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which requires that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran treat non-Muslims fairly and respect their human rights, and in light of Iran’s obligations as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, I urge the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Gurbanov, Mr. Farhadov and Mr. Nasibov.

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your country]

Who to send it to…

The families of our brothers have asked us to contact the Supreme Leader, the President and the Head of the Judiciary of Iran.

You can contact the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei via his official website: http://www.leader.ir/en/letter

Please email the President and the Head of the Judiciary directly:

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hassan Rouhani
Email: media@rouhani.ir
(Use the subject line: FAO President Hassan Rouhani)

Head of Judiciary, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani
Email: info@humanrights-iran.ir
(Use the subject line: FAO Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani)

Thank you for taking action on behalf of these three brothers. Please do also hold them up in prayer.

Source: Middle East Concern

Pray now…

• For their welfare – that they will not face physical or mental harm in prison
• That the Iranian authorities will be moved by letters from around the world to release these three brothers.