Execution of 80 lashes for Mohammad Reza Omidi, a Christian convert
On Wednesday, October 13, Mohammad Reza (Yohan) Omidi, a Christian convert, was sentenced to 80 lashes on charges of “drinking alcohol” during a Christian worship service. He had previously traveled to the city of Borazjan to serve his two-year exile sentence after completing his prison term.
According to HRANA News Agency, citing Article 18, on Wednesday, October 13, 2020, the sentence of 80 lashes for Mohammad Reza (Yohan) Omidi, a Christian convert, was carried out at the Rasht Prosecutor's Office.
He was sentenced to 80 lashes after attending a Christian worship service and on charges of "drinking alcohol."
According to the report, Mr. Omidi was informed by phone on Saturday that he would have to return to Rasht to carry out the flogging sentence. This was despite the fact that the Rasht General and Revolutionary Court had delegated the execution of the sentence to the Borazjan Court in a letter.
Johan and two members of his house church, Mohammad Ali (Yaser) Mosayebzadeh and Zaman (Sahib) Fadaei, were sentenced to 80 lashes in September 2017 on charges of drinking alcohol.
Mohammad Reza Omidi, along with four other Christian citizens, Mohammad Ali Mosaybzadeh, Zaman Fadaei, Yousef Nadarkhani, and his wife, were arrested on May 14, 2016, during a church ceremony in Rasht by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence.
The court hearing on the charges against Mohammad Reza Omidi was held on July 26, 2017, in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, and Mr. Omidi was ultimately sentenced to 10 years in prison and 2 years of exile to Borazjan County on charges of acting against national security by promoting Christianity. The Christian convert's sentence was reduced to two years in prison by the appeals court.
This citizen was released from Evin Prison on Tuesday, August 19, 2020, upon completion of his sentence, and in September of this year, he left for the city of Borazjan to serve his two-year exile sentence.
Source: HRANA
