Reverend Wilson Issavi Tortured
The wife of detained Assyrian leader of the Evangelical church of Kermanshah described his condition as dreadful after visiting with him in prison.
RAHANA – Reverend Wilson Issavi had visible marks as a result of torture on his body, according to his wife Medline Nazanin who visited with him in prison. Nazanin has been told by intelligence officials that the priest may face a death sentence.
Rev. Wilson Issavi was arrested on February 2, 2010 by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence while visiting one of his old friends in Shahin Shahr, Isfahan. He was taken to an undisclosed location.
Earlier, on January 3rd, Reverend Issavi’s house in Isfahan had been raided by intelligence agents. His church which is one the oldest churches in Kermanshah was sealed and his parishioners are under watch.
According to his wife, the reverend is held in an unmarked prison on Old Shahin-Shahr Road. She has only been allowed to visit with him once since his arrest. His wife was told by prison authorities her husband is accused of performing baptisms as well as converting Muslims to Christianity. He is awaiting trial and a death sentence.
On Sunday February 28th, intelligence agents raided the house of Hamid Shafiee and his wife, Reyhaneh Aghajari, two of Isfahan’s well known house-church leaders. The couple was arrested and taken to an unknown location and a number of their personal belongings including books and CDs were seized by [regime] agents.
Over the past few months, under government pressure, the Assemblies of God church had to stop Friday evening meetings, and the Assyrian Pentecostal church of Shahre Ara in Tehran was forced to close its doors.
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