Rokhasare Ghanbari, Christian Convert, Transferred to Prison to Serve Imprisonment Sentence
In recent days, “Rokhasare “Mahrrokh” Ghanbari”, a Christian convert residing in Karaj, was arrested and transferred to prison to serve her one-year imprisonment sentence after reporting to the enforcement department of the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Alborz Province.
According to a report by Human Rights in Iran, citing Article 18 Organization, on Monday, October 22, 2019, “Rokhasare “Mahrrokh” Ghanbari”, a Christian convert residing in Karaj who had previously been sentenced to one year of imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court of Alborz Province for her religious activities and change of religion, was arrested and transferred to prison after receiving a summons and reporting to the enforcement unit of the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Alborz Province.
According to this report, this Christian convert, aged 61, had previously been arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Karaj for activities related to her religious belief in Christianity and change of religion, and after interrogation and completion of her case for referral to court, she was temporarily released on bail until the completion of legal proceedings.
Following the initiation of legal proceedings on the case of “Rokhasare “Mahrrokh” Ghanbari”, she was sentenced in July 2019 to one year of imprisonment by the Karaj Revolutionary Court on the charge of “propaganda against the system through propagation of Christianity.” This sentence was upheld in its entirety after referral to the Appeals Court.
The suppression of Christians in Iran is continuing to expand at a time when in international forums and by Mohammad Javad Zarif and officials of the Judiciary’s Human Rights Headquarters, acts of coercion and unlawful treatment of Christian converts and religious dissidents have been repeatedly denied.
Since the triumph of the Revolution in February 1979, at least 6 church leaders in Iran have been killed, and hundreds of Christians have been interrogated and imprisoned.
Moreover, the printing of the Christian Holy Bible in the Persian language has been prohibited, some churches have been closed, and Christian services in the Persian language have been prevented.
It should be noted that although Christians are recognized by law as followers of religions, security agencies are pursuing the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal forcefully with activists in this field.
Javaid Rahman, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, during a session held in the British Parliament, described the situation of Christian converts in Iran as very concerning. He added that this is one of his “concerns and worries,” and in the coming years he will seriously address this issue.
Source: Negah
