04/02/2021 Iran (International Christian Concern) –  Iranian Christian converts Homayoun Zhaveh and Sara Ahmadi have received their summons to report to Evin Prison within days. Many organizations have appealed on behalf of Homayoun to lift his prison sentence of two years, due to him being 62-years-old and having advanced Parkinson’s disease. However, no leniency has been allowed to date.

Homayoun and Sara’s lawyer applied for a retrial. Sara is currently sentenced to eight years in Evin Prison. The couple’s only charge is for membership in a local house-church. Article18’s advocacy director commented on the situation saying that the court’s decision, “would be shocking were it not for Iran’s proven track record of systematically persecuting Persian-speaking Christians, regardless of their age, health, or any other reasonable considerations”.

Neither of them were offered a COVID-19 vaccine prior to their summons. International organizations continue to call on Iran for the couple’s release and overturn the court’s decision in light of Homayoun’s vulnerability.

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