Three Iranian Christian converts were arrested

Abbas Souri and Maryam Mohammadi, two Christian converts, have each been sentenced to ten years of deprivation of social rights, 500 million Rials in fines, a travel ban, and ten years of non-membership in social and political groups on charges of membership in an "illegal group." The two also have to live outside Tehran and neighboring provinces for two years.

The deprivation of social rights of these two Christian converts is a reminder of the fact that in recent years, the judiciary, in addition to prison sentences and fines, has imposed deprivation of employment as a punishment on many Christian converts.

These two people were among the 18 Christian citizens who were arrested on August 22, 2020, in Narmak, Tehran, during an attack by 30 agents of the Ministry of Intelligence, and were transferred to Evin. They gathered at the home of a Christian citizen and prayed and worshiped.

The judge reportedly insulted the three Christian citizens and ridiculed their opinions during a hearing in the presence of lawyers.

Inquisition is prohibited by the constitution, but Christians have been repeatedly questioned during interrogation and trial.

In another simultaneous action, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Anoshavan Avidan, a 60-year-old Armenian citizen, to ten years in prison on charges of "forming and running an illegal group to act against national security”.

For years, the government has shut down Persian-speaking churches and harassed and attacked Christian homes and churches.

 

_{Source: Article 18}