Iranian Christians receive prison sentence for 'sectarian activities'

Three Christians from the Church of Iran denomination have each been sentenced to five years in prison and fined four million Rials ($95) on June 26.
They were sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, northern Iran after being convicted of "engaging in propoganda against the Islamic regime."
The three men, named as Amin Khaki, Milad Goudarzi and Alireza Nourmohammadi, are all appealing their sentences.
During the trial they were charged with  “sectarian activities” under a new amendment to the Iranian penal code. The new amendment states that "any deviant education or propaganda that contradicts or interferes with the sacred Islamic shari’a, will be severely punished," according to a statement released by human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

Jerusalem Post  Middle East
Iranian Christians receive prison sentence for 'sectarian activities'
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF   JUNE 29, 2021 14:38
Iranian Christian priests pray during a new year mass at a church in Tehran. (photo credit: REUTERS/MORTEZA NIKOUBAZL)
Iranian Christian priests pray during a new year mass at a church in Tehran.
(photo credit: REUTERS/MORTEZA NIKOUBAZL)
They were sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, northern Iran after being convicted of "engaging in propoganda against the Islamic regime."
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Three Christians from the Church of Iran denomination have each been sentenced to five years in prison and fined four million Rials ($95) on June 26.
They were sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, northern Iran after being convicted of "engaging in propoganda against the Islamic regime."
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The three men, named as Amin Khaki, Milad Goudarzi and Alireza Nourmohammadi, are all appealing their sentences.
During the trial they were charged with  “sectarian activities” under a new amendment to the Iranian penal code. The new amendment states that "any deviant education or propaganda that contradicts or interferes with the sacred Islamic shari’a, will be severely punished," according to a statement released by human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).
 
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Prior to the new amendment, Christian converts living in Iran have traditionally been charged with "action against state security," which stems from French law, and Iranian judges have used this in the past to crack down on people who convert to Christianity.
According to CSW the men were not allowed to be represented by their lawyers, despite him fulfilling all necessary requirments ahead of the trial.
“The campaign of harassment against Iranian Christians is unrelenting, as these baseless charges against these three men, under a new clause in the penal code, demonstrate. CSW calls for the acquittal of these innocent men," said CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas.

We also reiterate our call for the repeal of laws and articles formulated or utilised to target minority communities. Finally, we urge the Iranian authorities to release all prisoners detained on account of their religion or belief, and to end the relentless campaign of harassment of Christians and other religious minorities through the judicial system.” 

 

 

Source: m.jpost.com