Court hearing to hear charges against three Christian believers in Rasht
Today, Thursday, February 18, a court hearing to investigate the charges against Ahmad (Youhanna) Sarwar, Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh, and Morteza Hajeb Mashoudhkari, Christian believers, was held in Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court.
According to HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, today, Thursday, 18 February 2021, a court hearing was held in Rasht Revolutionary Court to investigate the charges against Ahmad (Youhanna) Sarwar, Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh, and Morteza Hajeb Mashoudhkari, Christian converts.
This meeting was held in the presence of the defendants in this case and their defense attorney, Iman Soleimani, in Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyyed Hassan Mousavi, and was to address the charges of propaganda activities against the regime and membership in anti-regime groups.
According to Iman Soleimani, the lawyer defending these citizens, given the shortcomings of the case, including the lack of documentation in the IRGC intelligence report, the conversion of the IRGC intelligence regulatory workflow into an indictment, and the lack of the presence of the prosecutor's representative to defend the indictment and other defenses based on the objections raised, it was decided to refer the case to the prosecutor's office to address the shortcomings.
HRANA had previously reported that the case of these three Christian believers had been referred to the Rasht Revolutionary Court.
Ahmad (Youhanna) Sarwar, Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezadeh and Morteza Hajeb Mashoudhkari were arrested by security forces in Rasht on September 4. On Saturday, September 17, Ahmad (Youhanna) Sarwar and Morteza Hajeb Mashoudhkari announced their transfer to Lakan Prison in Rasht during a phone call to their families, and were finally released from the prison on September 21 after posting a bail of 400 million Tomans, temporarily pending the completion of the trial. Mr. Pourrezadeh was also released in early October after posting a bail of 400 million Tomans.
It is said that the relatives of these citizens were threatened by IRGC intelligence agents for reporting the condition of their loved ones. In addition, one of their relatives and other members of the house church were summoned to the IRGC Intelligence Department in Rasht and interrogated.
Ahmad (Yuhanna) Suhail, 25, Ayub (Farzin) Pourrezazadeh, 28, and Morteza Hajeb Mashoud Kari, 38, are Christian believers and citizens living in Rasht.
It is worth noting that despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority by law, the security services follow the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal with activists in this field with force.
The treatment of Christian believers in Iran is taking place despite the fact that, 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 their religion with conviction, as well as the freedom to manifest it, individually or in community with others and in public or in private.
Source: HRANA
