By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) - Four devoted Christian men mistreated while in detention in Iran have been temporarily released due to the coronavirus pandemic, activists confirmed Thursday.
The men were identified as Ismail Narimanpour, Mohammad Ali Torabi, Alireza Vark Shah, and Hojjat Lotfi Khalaf.
The four Christians were reportedly jailed on April 19 following raids by security forces in the southwestern city of Dezful.
“While in custody, the men were reportedly beaten and questioned about their political beliefs,” said advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC) in a statement to Worthy News.
“They were asked about their opinions on the Islamic Revolution and whether they would be participating in upcoming presidential elections,” VOMC said.
They were released on April 21 after signing an agreement to immediately report to the Intelligence Office when summoned, according to Christians familiar with the case.
“It is believed that they had not been incarcerated because of the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Iranian prisons,” VOMC explained.
The group said it had urged its supporters to continue to pray for “these Iranian Christians and others” amid a broader crackdown on Christianity in the Islamic nation. Many of those targeted are former Muslims who accepted the Christian faith, Worthy News established.
Despite a reported crackdown, Christianity is reportedly spreading. Elam Ministries, a mission group of Iranian church leaders, estimated there “are that at least 200,000 Iranians who have come to Christ.” Some pastors believe the figure is closer to one million or more,” the group added.
Several Christian leaders and other believers remain jailed in Iran as authorities try to discourage believers, according to activists. “Over the past few decades, the Iranian church has experienced significant growth, unprecedented in the Muslim world,” said Elam Ministries.