Court Sessions for Christians Postponed Amid Escalating Military Clashes

Following the escalation of military clashes, at least three court sessions related to Christians have been postponed.

According to published reports, following the escalation of military clashes between the Islamic Republic and Israel, court sessions for Christians facing legal charges and currently released temporarily on bail have been postponed.

The mentioned sessions were scheduled to take place in recent days, but not only have these sessions not been held, they have been suspended without a new date being set. Additionally, the status of at least 11 people detained in Evin Prison has raised considerable concerns.

Beyond the uncertainty of prisoners of conscience and the continuation of their detention, eight political prisoners from Evin Prison have also petitioned the head of the judiciary through a letter, requesting temporary release. While requesting release on appropriate bail, a guarantor, or a surety, they wrote: “Evin Prison provides no shelter; release the prisoners.”

In their letter, these political prisoners, citing the directive of the Supreme Judicial Council in 1365 and articles 201 and 197 of the prison organization’s executive regulations, wrote: “The current military situation is an instance of ‘critical circumstances,’ and the head of the judiciary must, based on his legal authority, issue an order to grant long-term leave to prisoners.”

(According to a resolution presented since 1365, courts are required during emergency conditions in war zones to release prisoners conditionally or with surety to preserve their lives, depending on the nature of their offense. This law also exempts dangerous criminals and permits their transfer to another secure prison, but at the same time, political and financial prisoners can be released by receiving bail or other guarantees.)

Beyond political prisoners, currently over 60 Christian citizens are detained in Iranian prisons or are in legal proceedings related to religious and ideological charges, but now with the mounting regional tensions and escalating clashes, concerns regarding the status of these citizens have also increased.