Iran: Two Christians released on apostasy charges, Release launches appeal (press release) |
| Oct 02 2008 |
| Postings >> Iran |
Two Iranian Christians who faced apostasy charges have just been released from jail – after a tribunal ruled the charges against them were invalid, according to agency adnkronosinternational.
53-yr old Mahmoud Mohammed Matin-Azad and 40-yr-old Arash Ahmad-Ali Basirat are former Muslims who have become Christians. They were arrested in May and charged with apostasy.
Their release follows a statement of concern last week by the European Union. The EU urged the Iranian government to reconsider a draft bill that would impose the death penalty on Muslims who change their religion.
'We're delighted Iran has dropped its charges against these men,' says Release CEO Andy Dipper, 'but existence is about to become even tougher for other Iranians seeking freedom of faith.'
The Iranian parliament believes Muslims who change their faith should be put to death. They've voted overwhelmingly for a new law to execute Muslims who convert to another religion.
'Release is utterly opposed to moves to impose the death penalty on Iranians who wish to exercise the basic human right to choose their religion,' says Andy Dipper. 'Please join us in praying and putting pressure on Iran to scrap this proposal.'
Release International has launched a new appeal to help Christians in Iran, which is in the middle of a crackdown against Christians, carrying out arrests in four cities.
The authorities recently arrested Christian Ramtin Soodmand. They hanged his father, Pastor Hossein Soodmand, in 1990 for leaving Islam. Since then six Protestant pastors have been assassinated by unknown killers.
They also arrested Shahin Zanboori as he was sharing his faith. Secret police broke his arm and leg under interrogation. Shahin says they hanged him from the ceiling and beat the soles of his feet to force him to confess and name other Christians.
The Release appeal is to increase support for Iranian Christians, and to call for prayer that Iran's Legislative Commission rejects the proposed law mandating the death penalty for apostasy.
These are times of great tension between Iran and the United States. Iran is under pressure to abandon its nuclear programme and suspects Christians of spying for America or Israel.
The authorities allowed the wife of so-called apostate Mahmoud Mohammed Matin-Azad just one visit to her husband. After travelling 17 hours to get to the jail by bus they gave her five minutes to speak with him.
Mahmoud told her the authorities were pushing him to say he was in the pay of a foreign country.
Shahin Zanboori who was tortured is expected to be charged with spying. Two other Christians died in July after being badly beaten in a police raid. Other Christians are under arrest and house arrest.
Since the Iranian revolution, hundreds of Christians from Muslim backgrounds have faced interrogation and arrest.
Though Christians are in a tiny minority in Iran – less than half of one per cent – they trace their roots back 500 years before Islam – to the day of Pentecost. 'Release is giving financial support to church leaders who've lost their jobs, running training conferences, providing outreach materials, and is helping a special ministry to women, who are hugely disadvantaged in Iranian society,' says Release CEO Andy Dipper.
'We need to do more, so we've launched the Iranian appeal. Please help us to help our brothers and sisters in Iran and to stand with them in this time of trial.'
You can make a secure online donation at: www.releaseinternational.org/pages/donation.php or send a cheque payable to Release International by post, at: Release International, PO Box 54, Orpington BR5 9RT (please quote Release International Iran appeal). If you prefer to telephone, please call our Supporter Relations Team on 01689 823491 .
Release is calling for prayer - and for action:
· 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.
ENDS
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Source of breaking news:
'Iran: Two religious 'converts' freed, but others still in jail'
www.adnkronos.com/IGN/ext/printNewsAki.php?lang=English&cat=Religion&loid=3.0.2522344642
Background briefing:
The Iranian parliament has given its overwhelming approval to a new penal code, which includes the 'apostasy bill'. The motion was carried 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.
On September 26 the EU issued a declaration urging the Iranian Government to reconsider the draft bill on apostasy.
Those who offend Sharia law may be publicly flogged or even executed by hanging in the streets. Seventy-one people were hanged in July alone.
Iranian Christians in particular are under constant pressure from the police and the agents who monitor adherence to Islamic correctness. Under Iran's Islamic laws, Muslims who convert from Islam to another religion can be sentenced to execution at the judge's discretion.
Although the death penalty is usually commuted to a lengthy prison sentence, at least two converts to Christ have been publicly put to death by the state while many more have been clandestinely killed. And the draft law now before the parliament would make conversion to Christ a mandatory death penalty offence.
Many Iranian Muslims who become Christian believers join house churches which meet in secret. As in other repressive societies, despite the pressures on national Christians, the house church movement is growing.
Pressure on house churches inside Iran is intensifying. On July 17, a police squad raided a house church near one of the larger cities, and arrested eight men, six women and two teenagers, beating them all as they did so. One man, in his 60s, died from his injuries later that month in hospital. His wife died five days later from similar injuries and stress-related causes, reports FCNN (Farsi Christian News Network).
Despite increasing pressure on those who attend house churches, their number is growing, and the calls for literature, training and support are increasing.
For more stories of individual Christians under pressure in Iran, please go to www.releaseinternational.org/pages/donate/iran-appeal.php
Release is supporting Christians in Iran by:
Providing emergency relief
We provide financial aid to Christians who have been turned out of their homes because they have changed their faith.
Supporting leaders
We provide financial assistance to a small number of church leaders who have lost their jobs, so they can continue their ministries, such as leading house churches, in their home town.
Leadership training
We support the training of leaders and run training programmes. More than a hundred leaders have been trained over the last few years.
Women's ministry
We have a special ministry to women, who are hugely disadvantaged in Iranian society. We help them to receive Bible teaching, encouragement, and teaching on family values and children's ministry.
Supporting outreach projects
We supply copies of the Jesus film, evangelistic and teaching CDs, New Testaments, Bibles and evangelical Christian literature in Farsi, which is the main language in Iran.
Satellite TV broadcasting
We have supported our partners in broadcasting Christian evangelistic and teaching programmes into Iran. Many people have written to ask for literature, and have indicated that they have become Christians as a result of these programmes.
For further information please contact Release International on 01689 823491 or by email at info@releaseinternational.org
For more information on Release International please go to: www.releaseinternational.org
