Iranian Christian Ramiel Bet Tamraz has become the third member of his family to be sentenced to jail for “acting against national security”. His father, a pastor, and his mother have already been given jail terms of five years and ten years, respectively. Ramiel was previously arrested with four friends, he and one other man were sentenced to four months imprisonment on 11 July.
Ramiel was initially arrested in August 2016 when security officials interrupted a gathering of Christian families enjoying a picnic in Firuzkuh, north of Tehran. He and four Christian convert friends, were detained in Evin Prison, where they were held in solitary confinement for long periods and subjected to intense interrogation.
All three members of the family are appealing their sentences.
