(Open Doors) A total of 10 Iranian Christians are waiting on verdicts for their appeals expected in the coming days and weeks. Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck prisons in Iran—becoming a coronavirus hotbed—the country has released more than 80,000 prisoners, including seven Christians serving short-term sentences. Christian political prisoners serving long-term sentences remain incarcerated—and at risk for contracting the virus.
In March, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran called for the release of all prisoners of conscience to reduce the potential spread of the virus.
Families of the four Christian converts serving 10-year sentences in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison for “actions against national security,” told Article18 they expect to receive the verdicts of retrials for Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, 58, Yousef Nadarkhani, 42, Saheb Fadaei, 36, and Yohan Omidi, 46.