Bahram, Yusif and Eldar (left to right)
Photo: Middle East Concern via World Watch Monitor
In an act of mercy, the Iranian government allowed three Azerbaijani Christians, accused of missionary activity and anti-government propaganda, to return to their homeland on November 6th, after more than four months in prison.
Eldar Gurbanov, Yusif Farhadov, Bahram Nasibov, along with an arrested Iranian believer, Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh, were pleased with the government's decision to grant them freedom from prison. Having been released about a week prior on bail, the Azerbaijanis returned to their home country where they were happily reunited with their families.
Eldar, Yusif, Bahram and Naser were arrested on June 24th when security agents raided a wedding party they had attended in Tehran (read more). For two months, the three Azerbaijani men were kept incommunicado in solitary confinement where they were continually interrogated, yet denied consular assistance and legal counsel.
The men's families and friends are still calling on Iranian authorities to acquit the recently released believers of all charges. They hope "the Iranian regime will treat all prisoners with dignity and justice" and that "people will no longer be penalized on the account of their faith or religious activities."
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