Court of Appeals: Three Christian citizens sentenced to imprisonment, fines, and social deprivation

The convictions of Anushavan Avdian, a Christian citizen, and Abbas Souri and Maryam Mohammadi, two Christian believers, were confirmed in the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal. Previously, Anushavan Avdian was sentenced in the first instance court to 10 years in prison, a fine, and deprivation of social rights, while Abbas Souri and Maryam Mohammadi were sentenced to 50 million tomans in fines and social deprivation.

According to HRANA News Agency, citing Article 18, the conviction of Anushavan Avdian, a Christian citizen, and Abbas Souri and Maryam Mohammadi, two Christian believers, was upheld by the Court of Appeal.

According to the verdict, which was announced to these citizens by the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal on Sunday, June 28, Anushavan Avdian was sentenced to 10 years in prison and deprivation of social rights for 10 years, as well as a fine. Abbas Souri and Maryam Mohammadi were also sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of 50 million tomans to the state fund, a ban on membership in political groups and organizations, a ban on leaving the country, and a ban on registering their presence quarterly in the office of the case officers' supervision and follow-up, and a ban on residing in Tehran province and its neighboring provinces for 2 years.

The charges against these citizens are “forming and managing a group under the name of a Zionist missionary Christian house church with the aim of disrupting the country’s security” and “maintaining satellite reception equipment.”

These citizens had previously been convicted by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Earlier, Iman Soleimani, the defense attorney for Abbas Mohammadi and Anushavan Avdian, told HRANA in this regard: “This verdict was issued while no attention was paid to the defenses and it was ignored. Looking at the issued verdict, we will realize that what was stated in the bailiffs’ workflow was issued exactly as a verdict.”

Previously, the indictment of Anushavan Avdian and Abbas Souri was issued by Branch 3 of the Evin Security Prosecutor's Office.

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