More than 300 Christians Express Solidarity with Iranian Protestors

Iranian Christians released an open statement announcing their solidarity with the nationwide protests in Iran and condemned the police brutality.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, based on the initiative of KHMA (The Church Is the Right of Christians, more than 300 Iranian Christians issued an open statement supporting the nationwide protests after the death of Mahsa Amini.

According to the statement, Iranian Christians showed support regardless of their location, stating their solidarity with the people. 

The signatories also stated that showing sympathy and verbal consolation is not enough, stressing that people should take action against the Islamic Republic’s43-year oppression.

KHMA has been active since 2018 and strives for the Christians’ freedom of association through establishing the church as a necessary means to protect these individuals against violence.

Seven Christians Sentenced to a Total of 28 Years in Prison

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced seven Christians Joseph Shahbazian, Salar Eshraghi Moghaddam, Farhad Khazai, Somayeh Sadegh, Maasoumeh Ghasemi, Mina Khajawi and Maliheh Nazari to a total of 28 years in prison, a fine, ban from leaving the country, and other social deprivations.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, seven Christians were sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on Tuesday, June 7, Joseph Shahbazian was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a ban from leaving the country and membership in civil and political groups and other social limitations. This court has sentenced Mina Khajawi and Maliheh Nazari each to 6 years, Salar Eshraghi Moghaddam to four years and Maasoumeh Ghasemi and Fardhan Khazai to one year in prison. Somayeh Sadegh has also been fined 40 million tomans.

All these defendants have been charged with “disrupting national security through preaching Evangelical Christianity and creating home churches.”

In July of 2020, security forces arrested Iranian-Armenian Joseph Shahbazian, age 57, with several Christian converts in a religious ceremony in Tehran. He was later temporarily released on 2 billion tomans.

Convictions against Three Christians Upheld on Appeal

The Court of Appeals upheld a ten-year prison sentence and other convictions against Christian Citizen Anoushavan Avodian. Additionally, in this legal case, two other Christian converts, Abbas Soori and Maryam Mohammadi had been fined 50 million tomans, which all were upheld on appeal.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Article 18, the convictions against three Iranian Christians were upheld by the Court of Appeals.

In May of 2022, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Afshari, sentenced Anoushavan Avodian to 10 years in prison, paying a fine and restrictions of rights for 10 years. Two other defendants of this case, Abbas Soori and Maryam Mohammadi were fined 50 million tomans, prohibited from membership in political groups, banned from leaving the country, and residing in Tehran Province and neighboring provinces. Also, they were ordered to appear once every three weeks at the Supervision and Follow Up office of the Judiciary for two years.

The above individuals have been convicted on the charge of “organizing and running evangelical “Zionist” home church with the intention to act against national security,” and, ” owning satellite dish and receivers.”

Their Attorney Iman Soleimani told HRANA: “All arguments provided by the defense lawyer in the court have been ignored and the verdict was issued based on the judicial officers’ workflow.”

The prosecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.

Four Christian Converts Arrested by IRGC Intelligence Agents

On Sunday, May 8, 2022, IRGC intelligence agents arrested four Christian converts, Behnam Akhlaghi, Babak Hossein-Zadeh, Ayoub Pourreza-Zadeh, and Ahmad Sarparast in Rasht City, and transferred them to an unidentified location. Security agents’ attempt to arrest Morteza Hajeb Mashhoud failed as he was not at his home.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, May 8, 2022, four Christian converts were arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in Rasht.

Attorney Iman Soleimani told HRANA, “the authorities informed Mr. Hajeb Mashhoud that he would be arrested if he failed to come to the IRGC Intelligence’s Office. When he appeared at the office, he found out that a new legal case  had been opened against all the individuals.”

Behnam Akhlaghi, Babak Hossein-Zadeh had faced other arrests and convictions. Earlier, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced them to five years imprisonment on the charge of “acting against national security and promotion of Evangelical Christianity and Zionism”.  In March of 2022, the Branch 34 of the Court of Appeals acquitted them of the charges.

In April of 2022, Ahmad Sarparast, Ayoub Pourrezazadeh and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood-Kari were sentenced to five years imprisonment on the charges of “holding home church services, propaganda against the regime, association with Zionism and Branhamist sect”. They have also been fined in the amount of 18 million tomans. On May 23 of this year, Branch 18 of the Court of Appeal of Gilan Province will hold the first session to re-examine their case.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Iranian law, security forces harass and prosecute Muslims who convert to Christianity.

The prosecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.