Iran: Bill makes death penalty for apostasy mandatory
Sep 30 2008
Postings >> Iran

We thank God for the release of Mahmood and Arash on September 30. Read more.

Fears are growing for two Iranian Christians as Tehran moves closer to imposing a mandatory death penalty on anyone leaving Islam.

Mahmood Matin Azad, 52, and 44-year-old Arash Basirat were officially charged with apostasy after their arrest in May and are now awaiting trial behind bars.

News that the Iranian parliament has now approved a bill imposing the death penalty for apostates is a blow not just to Mahmood and Arash's families but also to other Christians with a Muslim background.

Parliament approved a new penal code, which includes the 'apostasy bill', on September 9, by a vote of 196 to seven. The code is still being reviewed by parliament and will then need to be approved by Iran's Guardian Council – a body of 12 conservative theologians and jurists. The Council is not expected to veto parliament's decision.

Commentators now believe the only hope of derailing the bill is international pressure. There is a precedent for this: in 2005 Christian Hamid Pourmand, a former army colonel, was acquitted of apostasy following international lobbying on his behalf.

(Sources: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Compass Direct, World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission)

Pray for Mahmood, Arash and their families. Pray that they will be tried and acquitted promptly. Pray that international pressure will be brought to bear on Iran where hardliners such as President Ahmadinejad are gaining influence.

Write a polite letter underlining your hope that Iran will uphold all citizens' freedom of religion. Write to: His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Or to: His Excellency Mr Rasoul Movahedian, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 16 Prince's Gate, London SW7 1PT.