Christian women arrested in Iran
Friday, April 3, 2009, 9:13 (BST)
Iranian security forces have arrested two women for practicing Christianity. According to persecution watchdog International Christian Concern (ICC), Marzieh Amairizadeh and Maryam Rustampoor were accused of being “anti-government activists”.
The Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) reported that Iranian security forces searched an apartment shared by the two women, confiscated their belongings and took them in handcuffs to a Tehran police station.
The women were then brought before the Revolutionary Court before being sent to the notorious Evin prison. The women were told that to be released they needed to pay a bail of $400,000.
FCNN reported, “Both women are allowed just a one minute telephone call every day to their immediate families. Both are unwell and in need of urgent medical attention. During their last call on March 28 Marzieh said that she was suffering from an infection and high fever. She said ‘I am dying’”.
ICC claim that persecution in Iran has intensified in recent years due to an increase in Muslims converting to Christianity. Last year 50 Christians were arrested for their faith. There have also been reports that some Christians have died following torture by the Iranian government.
Jonathan Racho, ICC Regional Manager for Africa, said, “Iran’s persecution of Christian minorities violates the fundamental freedom of its citizens to worship freely. The international community has obligations to speak up for the rights of the persecuted Iranian Christians. We call upon Iranian officials to stop mistreating Marzieh and Maryam and release them from prison.”
__________Follow-up____________
Two Iranian Women Arrested for Converting to Christianity
Posted GMT 8-11-2009 19:53:13Assyrian International News Agency
In a dramatic session before the revolutionary court this past weekend, documented by Elam Ministries, Maryam Rustampoor (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh (30) were told to recant their faith in Christ. Though great pressure was put on them, both women have refused to give in. Maryam and Marzieh were originally arrested on March 5, 2009 and have suffered greatly while in prison, suffering ill health, solitary confinement and interrogations for many hours while blindfolded. In a dramatic court room, the deputy prosecutor, Mr. Haddad, questioned Maryam and Marzieh about their faith and told them that they had to recant in both verbal and written form. They responded, "We will not deny our faith."
As the questioning continued, Maryam and Marzieh made reference to their belief that God had convicted them through the Holy Spirit.
Mr. Haddad told them, "It is impossible for God to speak with humans." Marzieh asked him in return, "Are you questioning whether God is Almighty?" Mr. Haddad then replied, "You are not worthy for God to speak to you." Marzieh said, "It is God, and not you, who determines if I am worthy."
In the eyes of the court, Maryam and Marzieh's only crime was their conversion to Christianity, but these young women have stayed strong and clung to their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are now in prison awaiting their verdict.
Although the Iranian Parliament has not yet passed a threatened new apostacy bill, over the last 20 years Iran has punished many converts to Christianity through torture, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings. Please pray for these courageous women of God.
By Ann Buwalda
Jubilee Campaign USA
___________Previous Incident___________
Iran releases two Christians held on apostasy charges
Iranian officials have released two Christian converts who were being held in prison on apostasy charges, one week after the Iranian Government voted overwhelmingly in favour of new legislation to introduce the death penalty for anyone who leaves the Muslim faith.
Mahmoud Mohammed Matin-Azad, 53, and Arash Ahmad-Ali Basirat, 40, were arrested in May and charged with apostasy following their conversion to Christianity from Islam.
Andy Dipper, head of Christian persecution watchdog Release International, gave a cautious welcome to news of their release.
"We're delighted Iran has dropped its charges against these men but existence is about to become even tougher for other Iranians seeking freedom of faith."
Their release follows a statement from the EU last week, in which it urged the Iranian Government to reconsider the debate on the draft bill on apostasy and pressed for the release of people imprisoned because of their religious affiliation.
Release said that strained relations with the US have made the situation even more precarious for Christians in Iran, where they make up less than one per cent of the mainly Muslim population.
Christians in Iran are often suspected of being spies for the US or Israel, and Release and other groups working with the persecuted church believe that hundreds of Christians from Muslim backgrounds have been arrested since the Iranian revolution.
There have been a number of Christians arrested because of their faith in recent months, including Ramtin Soodmand, whose father Pastor Hossein Soodmand was hanged in 1990 for converting to Christianity from Islam. Shahin Zanboori was reportedly arrested as he shared his faith and tortured by police officers whilst under interrogation. He is expected to be charged with spying.
According to Release, two Christians died in July after being badly beaten during a police raid and that at least six Protestant pastors have been killed since 1990.
Release has launched an appeal to help support Iranian believers.
"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," said 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."
Barnabas Fund, another group working with the persecuted church, echoed Release's concerns.
"The provisional approval of this bill has serious implications for Iranian Christian converts, who already face much persecution from the authorities," said Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund.
"It seems that the Iranian government is willing to continue on its course of complete Islamisation at the expense of the most basic human rights and in contradiction to Article 23 of the Iranian constitution. The Iranian Church needs our prayers more than ever."
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