Iran Prison Release - Vahik Abrahamian
“After being jailed for 359 days, Vahik Abrahamian has been released from prison in Hamedan”, an Open Doors contact from the region reports. “Monday morning 29 August, he was released and has returned to his family.”
Early 2010 Vahik and his wife Sonia were arrested for almost 60 days when government found out about their social work for drug addicts and prostitutes in Iran. The couple was released after a bail was paid by a Dutch congregation and their family and friends. Both Vahik and Sonia are from Armenian – traditionally Christian – background, so no charges of apostasy could be held against them.
Later that year, 4 September, the couple were arrested for the second time. During a raid, nine Christians were been arrested. Vahik and Sonia, together with two other Christians Arash and Arezou, were held in solitary confinement for almost 50 days and were treated badly; interrogated intensively and have been subject to psychological torture without any possibility to contact family or friends.
The four believers were transferred to a prison in their hometown of Hamedan, some 350 km west of Tehran, where they spent another 8 months in jail. Sonia, Arash and Arezou were released 30 April, but Vahik was kept in custody still until he was released after almost one year last Monday.
Vahik came to faith in the Netherlands when visiting an Iranian congregation. His life was changed; he quitted his drug addiction and after a few years he chose to go back to Iran in 2006 to support the outcasts of Iranian society.
The news agency FCNN reports that ‘the whole family is rejoicing and expressed their gratitude first to God for His gracious protection and intervention and secondly to the Christian family worldwide who have not ceased praying and advocating on their behalf. The news of worldwide prayer was a cause of comfort, strength and encouragement for the immediate family in Iran and overseas.’ Further the agency reports that ‘Vahik and Sonia have refrained speaking with anyone outside immediate family hence it has not been possible to ascertain his physical and emotional well being.’
Open Doors calls prayer supporters to praise God for the release of Vahik Abrahamian and also to pray for recovery for him and his wife Sonia, as 359 days in Iranian prison will have deeply impacted their lives. Continue to pray for the church in Iran for courage, perseverance and wisdom.