Hashem Karimi, the father of Hossein Karimi, a well-known Iranian Christian, has been released from prison and was immediately transferred to Rejaie hospital in Karaj city, reports Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries.

According to Mohabat News (www.mohabatnews.com), an Iranian Christian News Agency, “On the body of this 63 years old father, there was evidence of bruises found on both his arms, feet and abdomen. He was arrested in his own house by the security forces, was set free and then transferred to hospital due to extreme pressures while in prison.”

According to the Mohabat News report, “In the city of Karaj, located 20 Km north of Tehran, security agents, dressed in plain clothes, had entered Mr. Hashem Karimi’s residence. They searched and investigated the house and then without any explanation they seized him. After spending 13 days in prison, due to pressures and his critical physical condition, he was released and immediately transferred to Rejaie hospital of Karaj city.”

According to one of his close relatives, as reported to Mohabat News, on the body of this 63 years old father, there was evidence of bruises found on both his arms, feet and abdomen.

According to the Iranian Christian News Agency, the security agents entered the house on Monday, December 6, 2010, with the intention of arresting Hossein Karimi.

“When they did not succeed in finding him, they instead arrested his father and took him away to an unknown place,” their story said.

“Hossein Karimi, one of the Persian speaking Christians in the city of Karaj, had been arrested several times previously by the security agents. Next he was arrested on November 30, 2010, when security agents broke into a house meeting in his home. Because of these arrests and the court file against him, he applied to leave the country.”

From Turkey, Hossein Karimi, in a television interview on “Voice of America” (VOA), regarding the reason for his father's arrest and physical condition, said, “When the security agents broke into one of the home fellowships which I was responsible for, with the intention of arresting me, they entered my father's residence, and as they did not succeed in my arrest, they kidnapped my father, Hossein Karimi.”

He added, “The prison authorities, due to my father's harsh and violent treatment received and also due to his critical physical condition, were forced to release him after 13 days. Immediately after his release, he was transferred to the hospital and until now he is in the ‘ICU’.”

Due to accusations of being a member of Home Fellowships, evangelizing as well as holding home meetings, at the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Branch 19 of Karaj, Hossein Karimi, was sentenced to two years of suspend imprisonment on March 15, 2009.