A prison facility in Tehran, notorious for housing Christian and other religious prisoners, has been caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
At least 71 people were killed in a strike on Evin prison early last week. At least one Christian has been directly affected by the strikes, but no further details are available.
Busloads of prisoners were transferred to alternate facilities following the attack. At least six of these prisoners are Christians who were imprisoned for their faith.
Among those transferred was Mina Khajavi, a 60-year-old Christian convert serving a six-year prison sentence after being arrested in June 2020 in part of a string of coordinated raids against Iranian house churches. While in Evin Prison, authorities denied Khajavi medical treatment for her arthritis and a broken ankle sustained in a car accident shortly before her imprisonment.
The Israeli Defense Forces announced they had targeted Evin Prison, referring to it as “a symbol of oppression for the Iranian prison.”
Widely referred to as a “torture factory” and “hell on earth,” Evin Prison houses roughly 60% of Christians detained in Iran. Prisoners incarcerated in Evin live in dismal conditions. Wards are overcrowded and lack necessities. Inmates have reported more than 70 types of torture, according to a report published by the U.K.
Iranian authorities and Islamic leaders are known for brutally persecuting Christians. Conversion to Christianity is punishable by imprisonment or death. Despite the extreme oppression of Christians, Iran is home to the world’s fastest-growing church.
