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Jailed Iranian Christians Acquitted, Freed

by | Tue, May 16 2023

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A Christian couple has been freed from jail in Iran after being acquitted of national security offences for attending a house church.

An Appeal Court  judge found there was no evidence the couple had acted against the nation’s security.

He ruled that gathering with people of the same faith was ‘natural’ and possessing Christian books was an “extension of their beliefs.”

The release of 64-year-old Homayoun Zhaveh and his wife Sara Ahmadi was welcomed by Christian groups after their initial arrest in 2019.

Mr. Zhaveh was serving a 2-year sentence while Ms. Ahmadi faced 8-years behind bars because she was seen as the house church leader.

Mr. Zhaveh suffers from advanced Parkinson’s disease and his health had deteriorated in prison.

Their first two applications for a retrial were rejected, but over Easter they were informed that the Supreme Court had ordered that their case be heard again by an Appeal Court.

“The reports by the officers of the Ministry of Intelligence about the organisation of home groups to promote Christianity, membership, and participation in home groups, are not considered as acts against the country’s security, and the law has not recognised them as criminal activity,” the judge stated.

His ruling mirrors that of a historic 2021 Supreme Court judgement that acquitted nine other Christian converts of acting against national security.

That case also ended up at the 34th branch of the Tehran Appeal Court, which found there was “insufficient evidence” the converts had acted against national security, referencing their lawyers’ explanation that they had only “worshipped in the house church in accordance with the teachings of Christianity” and that Christians are taught to live in “obedience, submission and support of the authorities.”

Article 18 which is a group that supports persecuted Iranian Christians warned that Iranian government agencies often exploit vague laws to punish believers.

It cautioned that other judges may not be so understanding.

Article18’s director, Mansour Borji, explained: “This latest verdict demonstrates yet again the arbitrary nature of the ruling that has sent a considerable number of Christians to prison, many of them suffering from the effects of their trauma years later. For decades, intelligence institutions within the Islamic Republic have disregarded judicial processes and the law of the land. They have exercised authority and control over judges that they have installed in specific Revolutionary Courts dealing with such cases. They have abused and exploited vague legal precepts to criminalise peaceful and constitutionally lawful activities of these Christians. Unfortunately, not so many judges can be found who would so clearly acknowledge the rights of the wrongly accused Christians, and refute the unjust verdicts issued against them.”

He added: “We welcome the ruling of the appeal court, and rejoice with Sara and Homayoun, their family members, their lawyer, and all Christians around the world who supported them through prayer and advocacy during their hardship. No-one should be subjected to the torture they have endured. But in this joyous moment, we also think of other prisoners of conscience, including Christians, who continue to be detained and imprisoned on similar charges. Let’s hope for a fair judgment for them, too.”