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2017-07-13

• Christians Sentenced with Lengthy Terms

  
  Tehran, Iran

  On July 3rd and 4th, ten-year jail terms were handed to Pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz (an Assyrian) and three Persian converts associated with his ministry. Though the authorities closed the pastor's Tehran church in 2009, the Christians continued to meet in house fellowships. Pastor Victor and Persian converts Kaviyan Fallah-Mohammadi and Amin Afshar-Naderi had been arrested along with several believers at a Christmas celebration in 2014. (A previous report on the situation is available here.)

• Health Struggles Plague Imprisoned Pastor

  
  Pastor Dom Dawng Nawng Latt
  Photo: Morning Star News

  One of the two assistant pastors arrested by army officials last Christmas Eve is suffering deteriorating health from malnutrition. Pastor Dom Dawng Nawng Latt, 65, has become weak, lacks energy and suffers from asthma and dysentery, according to fellow pastor La Jaw Gam Hseng, 35, who is on trial with him.

  Khon Peng, the wife of Pastor Dom, reported that he is increasingly discouraged: "He has to share the room with 40 people in custody. So it is very tough for him.... He suffers both mentally and physically." Even though Pastor Dom was transferred from Mongko town in Muse Township to Lashio in April, Khon has been able to visit her husband a few times, bringing him needed food and medicine.

• High School Official Released from Prison

  
  Yuri Pak
  Photo: VOM USA

  Yuri Pak was released from prison on June 17th. Yuri, a teacher, dean of a high school and local church leader was sentenced to two years in prison, after being convicted of making a false emergency services call. The accusations began in April 2015, when someone used Yuri's mobile phone to make a prank phone call to Kazakhstan's emergency services. (A previous report may be reviewed here.)

  Authorities were quick to charge Yuri with making a bomb threat during that call and arrested him. Yet, during trial, the "evidence" against him was a two-minute-long recording of a man who was obviously drunk and using rough prison jargon. Expert witnesses testified that the caller's voice did not match Yuri's. Additionally, the caller makes reference to having spent ten years in prison and being angry at police. Yuri had not been in prison.