One Christian Prisoner Released on Extraordinary Bail; Others Still in Prison
ICC Note:
Five Iranian Christians, who have been imprisoned eight months for their Christian activities, finally appeared in court on October 15. One of the Christians was released on bail, Mohabat News reports. The rest are scheduled to reappear in court on October 25. To date, there are an estimated 20 Christians jailed in Iran for their faith in Christ.
10/21/2012 Iran (Mohabat News)- According to « Mohabat News » reporters, the official trial of five Christian prisoners was held on October 15, 2012 eight months after their arrest. The trial was held at branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, and was judged by Mr. Rashidi.
The names of the Christians are as follows, Messrs. Mojtaba Hosseini, Mohammad-Reza Partoei (Kourosh), Vahid Hakkani, Homayoun Shokouhi and his wife Mrs. Fariba Nazemian.
Mohabat News sources reported that Homayoun Shokouhi and Fariba Nazemian were absent from this trial and were not transferred to the court building at all, due to unknown reasons.
The other three Christian prisoners, Mojtaba Hosseini, Mohammad-Reza Partoei (Kourosh), Vahid Hakkani, were transferred to the court at 10 in the morning with their hands and feet chained together. This use of handcuffs and chains for prisoners of conscience and political prisoners is illegal according to the regulations of prisons in Iran. The way they were transferred to court is the way that is used to transfer murderers. Foot chains are usually used for murderers in Iran. The three Christian men were chained together so tightly that they were hardly able to walk.
A Mohabat News correspondent in Shiraz said the court session was held behind closed doors and the families of these Christians were prevented from entering the court room.
The court session began with the Christian couple, Homayoun Shokouhi and his wife Fariba Nazemian, being absent. The judge asked the defendants a few short questions and postponed the trial merely because the other two defendants were absent.
The judge, Mr. Rashidi, said about the Christian convert, Mojtaba Hosseini, “Because he had received a suspended sentence before and his case is still open, that a suspended sentence should be applied to his case. This matter will be addressed in the next session”.
It should be noted that Mojtaba Hosseini and Homayoun Shokouhi had been arrested in a house church by security authorities in 2008 for their Christian faith. The Revolutionary Court gave them a suspended sentence at that time.
The defendants were transferred to the infamous Adel-Abad prison after the session was over. Their hands and feet were chained again on the way back to the prison. Obviously they will remain in uncertainty until their next trial is held.
The judge, Mr. Rashidi decided, the next trial is to be held on Wednesday, October 25, 2012.
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The Mother (Fariba Nazemian) Released on Bail
After some hours agents brought Mrs. Nazemian before the judge. Asking questions about Christianity, the judge asked her to denounce her faith in Christ and repent from her current faith so that she could be released to go home and take care of her children. Mrs. Nazemian, however, insisted on her faith and rejected the judge’s offer.
Therefore, considering the sickness of the Christian lady’s child and his need to be cared for, the court issued her release order on a 250 million Toman bail (Approximately 204,000 USD). The Christian lady’s friends provided the bail in form of title deed of a property and she was temporarily released.
After issuing the temporary release order, the Christian lady’s charges were announced as “forming an illegal group in favor of groups opposing the Islamic regime, acting against national security and insulting holy Islamic figures”.
Mrs. Nazemian was temporarily released on Thursday, October 18 after 8 months in prison. She must wait for the next trial which is scheduled to be held on Thursday, October 25.
Shiraz is a major city and the capital of Fars Province with countless religious minorities including Christian converts living there. The religious minorities living in this city are often harassed and prosecuted by the judicial authorities.
Also, according to published reports, seven non-Trinitarian Christians have been arrested by security authorities. The Fars semi-official news agency which is supported by the Revolutionary Guards confirmed their arrest in a report and said, “Four illegal networks known as “house churches” were discovered in Shiraz and Kavar and their primary leaders were arrested.”
The news agency mentioned those arrested as being from vulnerable groups of society who are suffering from mental and in some cases financial issues. The report affiliated the house churches with Jews and Israeli security organizations without providing any evidence or proof.
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