“Hossein Shebani” Christian Citizen Accused of Heretical Propaganda Contrary to Islam
“Hossein Shebani,” a Christian citizen residing in Karaj, has been accused of heretical propaganda contrary to Islam.
According to published reports, Hossein Shebani (John), a Christian citizen residing in Karaj and a member of a house church, was accused of “deviant educational and propaganda activities contrary to the sacred Islamic law through raising false and fraudulent claims in the field of religion.”
He was summoned to the building of the Ministry of Intelligence in Karaj on December 18th and was interrogated for three hours. Days later, on December 26th, through the Sana system to defend against the allegations, he was summoned to Branch 2 of the Fardis Public Prosecution Office. Mr. Shebani was formally informed of the charges on the 1st of Bahman month after referring to Branch 2 of the Fardis Prosecutor’s Office, and was temporarily released on bail of 300 million tomans.
The charge brought against John Shebani in his case file is described as “deviant educational and propaganda activities contrary to or harmful to the sacred Islamic law through raising false and fraudulent claims in the fields of religion and faith.” This charge is based on amendments made to Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code. According to this article, “committing any other deviant educational or propaganda activity, contrary to or harmful to the sacred Islamic law in the physical or virtual space, or creating psychological and physical dominance over humans in the form of a sect or any other organized criminal group, is considered a crime.”
The Islamic Republic government has, from the past to the present, imprisoned many Christian citizens on charges of “propaganda against the system,” “actions against national security,” “insults to sacred values,” and many other false charges, without presenting credible documents or evidence. Now, with amendments to Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code, it is attributing new charges to Christians, which, due to these individuals being convicted of crimes, include harsher sentences.
The United Nations Human Rights body also, through a resolution, while condemning the violation of human rights by Iranian government authorities, called on the Islamic Republic government to remove all forms of discrimination based on thought, conscience, religion, or belief, including the restrictions of Article 499 and Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code, both in law and in practice.
The current situation of Hossein Shebani, with the new charges brought by the court and his temporary release on bail, remains unclear. Many Christian citizens are also imprisoned on baseless charges, with news of their arrest or imprisonment never being disclosed.
