 Farshid Fathi Photo: FreeFarshid.org |
Farshid Fathi, a believer serving a six-year prison sentence for "political offences," was among more than 30 prisoners who were injured by guards and security agents in Evin Prison on April 17th. (For more information on Farshid's sentence, please visit this page.)
Forces from the Intelligence Ministry, Revolutionary Guards, and over 100 prison guards were involved in the violence, which left dozens of prisoners seriously injured. Farshid suffered a broken foot and toe when a guard stamped on his bare foot to prevent him from assisting an injured inmate during the attack. The assault occurred after the inmates protested against an aggressive inspection that had lasted for over five hours.
Three days later, on Easter Sunday (April 20th), Farshid was finally transferred to a hospital where he was treated with a cast. However, he will also reportedly need surgery in the coming weeks.
He later wrote the following note:
"Today I celebrate our Lord's resurrection (with) mixed feelings of joy and pain in a different way and in a different place. My left foot is in a cast after they broke it last Thursday in violations they applied against helpless prisoners under the excuse of inspections. After three days of pain, finally they took me chained and shackled to a hospital on Easter morning. Though I was in dire pain, I took it as a gift from our Lord to get out of prison -- even for a few hours. Of course, we forgive them for all they have done to us because we are followers of the One who says, 'Father, please forgive them because they don't know what they are doing.' So my dear friends, please...pray for me that I may know Him and be found in Him and the power of (His) resurrection."
Thank the Lord that Farshid was eventually able to receive medical attention. Pray that he will continue to recover, and that he will promptly receive any further necessary treatment. May Farshid and other imprisoned Christians in Evin Prison be a source of reconciliation and peace between fellow prisoners and their authorities, so that the violence will cease. Finally, please also pray that Farshid will be filled with renewed hope and joy as he faces a six-year prison sentence. May he continue to look to our resurrected Lord for strength and grace while serving Him behind bars until granted release.
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