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In an
attempt to silence a Christian human rights activist
living in England, Iranian authorities arrested and
interrogated his Muslim father for six days before
releasing him on Tuesday, May 19.
Abdul Zahra Vashahi, a retired 62 year old suffering a
heart condition, was arrested on Thursday, May 14, in
the southwestern Iranian city of Bandar Mahshahr and
interrogated about the human rights activities of his
son, a Christian convert who has been living in England
since 2003. John (Reza) Vashahi converted to
Christianity while in England and in 2008 founded the
Iranian Minorities Human Rights Organization (IMHRO).
In February the elder Vashahi had received a call from
local authorities telling him that if his son didn’t
stop his activities they would arrest him instead. The
younger Vashahi said the Iranian government began
putting increased pressure on his family whom he has not
seen in six years. “It is a good example of harassment
even outside the country,” Vashahi said. “It shows how
far the government will go if we let them. Inside we
can’t talk, and we come to Europe and still they want to
silence us. It’s a very worrying sign.”
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