Couple die after beating, arrest at house church

ISFAHAN, Iran — An Iranian Christian couple in their 60s died within a week of each other from injuries sustained when secret police raided a house-church service hosted at their home and severely beat them, a source said.

Less than a week after Abbas Amiri’s funeral, his wife died from similar injuries and from the stresses of her husband’s death, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN).

Police beat and arrested Amiri July 17, along with seven other men, six women and two minors who were attending the service. He died in a hospital July 30 from injuries sustained from the beating. His wife, Sakineh Rahnama, died Aug. 3 from stress-related causes, according to FCNN.

Secret police raided the house-church meeting hosted by Amiri and his wife in Malek Shahr, just outside the central Iranian city of Isfahan. They beat and arrested all those in attendance, including the two minors and the hosting couple.

All those arrested at the house meeting are reportedly still in custody, including Amiri’s daughter and the two minors.