ICC Note:  Over a year after their initial arrest, four Iranian Christians have lost their appeal of a ten-year prison sentence. Three of the men also have a separate appeal ongoing which challenges their sentences of receiving 80 lashes for drinking wine during communion. Iran has a notorious record of human rights abuses against Christians and other religious minorities.    

05/11/2018 Iran (CBN) –    Four Christians found guilty of acting against Iran’s national security have lost an appeal against their prison sentence.

In May 2016, security agents raided the homes of Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie in Rasht, a city some 200 miles northwest of Iran’s capital city Tehran.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the men were charged with being a threat to Iran’s national security and accused of promoting “Zionist Christianity”.

In July 2017, more than year after their arrest, they were found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Pastor Nadarkhani and Mr. Omidi received two additional year sentences.

They appealed the verdict, but lawyers representing the men were informed last month that a court had upheld their sentence.

“The charges leveled against these men are spurious and their sentences are excessive, amounting to a criminalization of Christian practice,” Mervyn Thomas, Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s chief executive, said in a statement. “We call for an annulment of these sentences.”

Mossayebzadeh, Fadaie and Omidi were ordered to receive 80 lashes each for drinking wine during a communion services. Thomas says they are still awaiting the outcome of their appeal against that ruling.

“The international community must press the government of Iran to uphold its constitutional and international obligation to ensure the full enjoyment of the right to freedom religion or belief for all of its citizens, regardless of their creed,” Thomas said.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been in and out of prison for his faith numerous times.

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