Acquittal of "Anushavan Odyan" from the charge of "acting against national security" and issuance of an immediate release order

Anushan Odian was immediately released by the Court of Appeal and acquitted of the charge of "acting against national security."

On 22 Farvardin 1401, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran Province sentenced Anushan Odian, an Armenian citizen, to ten years in prison and deprivation of social rights for his peaceful religious activity and on charges of “forming or managing an illegal group with the aim of disrupting the security of the country in the nature of educational and propaganda activities that are contrary to and disruptive of the holy law of Islam.” Finally, on 27 Shahrivar 1402, Mr. Odian was sent to Evin Prison to serve ten years in prison.

The request for a retrial of Anushan Odian, Maryam Mohammadi, and Abbas Souri, who were co-defendants with him, was rejected on July 25, 1401, by Branch 26 of the Supreme Court. "Iman Soleimani," the lawyer for Anushan Odian and Abbas Souri, announced in this case that Branch 26 of the Supreme Court had rejected their request for a retrial without any reasoning and without considering their previous defenses.

Mr. Odian’s arrest and imprisonment came at a time when the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly claimed that Christians in Iran, namely Armenians and Assyrians, enjoy freedom of religion and religious observance. However, contrary to the government’s claims, many of them are severely repressed by the government when they share their Christian faith with other Persian-speaking Christians or worship the One God together. Hakob Gochumian is one of the Armenian Christian citizens who is serving a ten-year sentence in Evin Prison.

In March 1401, the Supreme Court acquitted nine Christian citizens living in Rasht and Anzali of the charge of "acting against national security" and issued a ruling declaring that preaching Christianity and forming a house church is neither a crime nor collusion to disrupt the country's security.

Also, after the Supreme Court's ruling, Branch 34 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeals agreed to the acquittal of these imprisoned citizens and issued a warrant for their release, stating: "There are no sufficient religious grounds or evidence to prove the crime for the conviction of these converts who were only engaged in praise and worship."

According to published reports, Branch 21 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeals, yesterday, Tuesday, October 23, 1403, acquitted Anushan Odian, a Christian citizen imprisoned in Evin Prison, of the charge of "acting against national security" and ordered his immediate release, confirming the Supreme Court's verdict.

However, despite this ruling, the Islamic Republic government continues to arrest and imprison Christians for their Christian beliefs and peaceful religious activity.