Rejection of Retrial Request for Hadi Rahimi and Sakina Bahjati at the Supreme Court
Hrana News Agency – The retrial request for Hadi Rahimi and Sakina Bahjati, Christian believers, was rejected by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court of Iran. Hadi Rahimi went to Evin Prison last month to serve a 4-year sentence, and Ms. Bahjati was also summoned to serve her 2-year prison sentence.
According to Hrana News Agency, the news organ of the Iranian Human Rights Activists Network, the retrial request for Hadi Rahimi and Sakina Bahjati, Christian believers, was rejected.
The retrial request for these two Christian believers was rejected by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court of Iran under the presidency of Judge Rahmani.
According to Iman Soleimani, the defense lawyer for these two Christian believers: “The retrial request was filed based on Article 474 of the Criminal Procedure Code and based on the previous ruling of Branch 28 of the Supreme Court of Iran, stating that establishing a house church does not constitute action against national security. Additionally, considering the order to discontinue prosecution by the Dezful Prosecutor’s Office, the existence of similarities in sentences issued against the clients and the aforementioned rulings, the belief that Christianity is not a crime based on freedom of speech and opinion, prohibition of inquiry into beliefs, the principle of legality of crimes and punishments, narrow interpretation of criminal laws, and interpretation in favor of the accused, the retrial request was submitted. However, despite the defenses presented, the retrial request was rejected.”
These two Christian believers were interrogated in February 2020 following security forces’ entry into their residence and confiscation of personal items on charges of “propaganda against the system and society and conspiracy against national security.”
Hadi Rahimi and Sakina Bahjati were sentenced in August 2020 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges including “membership in groups or gangs aimed at undermining national security” to 4 years and 2 years of imprisonment respectively. In September of the same year, this conviction was upheld exactly by Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Appeals Court.
Hadi Rahimi ultimately went to Evin Prison on December 19 to serve his prison sentence.
It should be noted that although Christians are officially recognized as a religious minority according to law, security agencies pursue the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal with activists in this field forcefully.
Treatment of Christian believers in Iran takes place while according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of religion and to change religion with belief and also freedom to express it individually or collectively and openly or in private.
Source: Hrana
