Iran – Urgent calls for release of two Christian women jailed without charge

Concern is rising for two young Iranian women sent to prison without charge – apparently for turning from Islam to Christianity.

Maryam Rostampuor, who is 27, and 30-year-old Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad were detained almost two months ago when Iranian security officials raided their homes. The women are reported to be in extremely poor health and sharing a cell with 27 others in the notorious Evin prison, north-west Tehran. They have allegedly been subjected to sleep deprivation.

Maryam and Marzieh have reportedly been accused unofficially of being 'anti-government activists'. But their family and friends believe that they have been targeted because they were raised as Muslims but later became Christians.

Iran's Guardian Council has yet to rule on draft revisions to the penal code which could make apostasy (leaving Islam for another religion) a capital crime for men; under the apostasy Bill, women would be jailed for life (Prayer Alert, February 10, 2009).

Religious freedom is deteriorating for faith groups such as Christians and the Baha'is in Iran, according to US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Compass Direct news agency says that more than 50 Christians were arrested in Iran in 2008.

(Sources: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Compass Direct, International Christian Concern)

• Pray for the immediate release of Maryam and Marzieh.
• Continue to pray that Iran's apostasy Bill will not become law.