Execution of 80 Lashes Sentence for Mohammadireza Omidi, Young Christian Convert

On Wednesday, October 14, 2020, the sentence of 80 lashes against Mohammadireza (Youhan) Omidi, a young Christian convert, was carried out on charges of “consuming alcohol” during Christian worship ceremonies. Prior to this, following the completion of his imprisonment, he had been sent to the city of Borazjan to serve his two-year exile sentence.

According to Hrana news agency, citing Article 18, on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, the sentence of 80 lashes for Mohammadireza (Youhan) Omidi, a young Christian convert, was executed at the Rasht Prosecutor’s Office.

His conviction to 80 lashes followed his participation in Christian worship ceremonies and charges of “consuming alcohol.”

According to the report, Mr. Omidi was informed via telephone on Saturday that he must return to the city of Rasht to carry out the lashing sentence. This occurred despite the fact that the General and Revolutionary Court of Rasht had delegated the execution of the sentence to the Borazjan Court in a letter.

Youhan and two other members of his house church, Mohammadreza (Yaser) Mosib Zadeh and Zaman (Saheb) Fadaei, were sentenced to 80 lashes in September 2017 on charges of consuming alcohol.

Mohammadireza Omidi, along with four other Christian citizens named Mohammadreza Mosib Zadeh, Zaman Fadaei, Yousef Nadarkhani, and his wife, were arrested on April 14, 2016, during a church service in Rasht following raids by Ministry of Intelligence officers.

The court hearing to examine charges against Mohammadireza Omidi was held on June 24, 2017, in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, and ultimately Mr. Omidi was convicted of “actions against national security through the promotion of Christianity” to 10 years imprisonment and 2 years exile to Borazjan County. The imprisonment sentence of this young Christian convert was reduced to 2 years imprisonment in the appeals court.

Source: Hrana