Hadi Rahimi and Sakineh Behjati's request for retrial rejected by the Supreme Court
HRANA News Agency – The request for a retrial of Christian believers Hadi Rahimi and Sakineh Behjati was rejected by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court. Hadi Rahimi was sent to Evin Prison last month to serve a 4-year sentence, and Ms. Behjati was summoned to serve her 2-year sentence.
According to HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the request for a retrial of Hadi Rahimi and Sakineh Behjati, Christian believers, was rejected.
The request for a retrial of these two Christian believers was rejected by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court, headed by Judge Rahmani .
According to Iman Soleimani, the lawyer defending these two Christian believers: “The request for a retrial was submitted based on Article 474 of the Criminal Procedure Code and citing the previous ruling of the Supreme Court, Branch 28, stating that establishing a house church is not an act against national security. Also, considering the Dezful Prosecutor’s Office’s ban on prosecution, the similarity of the rulings issued against the clients and the Sadr al-Asharah rulings, the belief that Christianity is not a crime based on freedom of expression and belief, the prohibition of inquisition, the principle of legality of crime and punishment, a narrow interpretation of criminal laws, and an interpretation in favor of the accused. However, the request for a retrial was rejected regardless of the defenses presented.”
These two Christian believers were interrogated in February 2019 on charges of "propaganda against the system and society and collusion against national security" after security agents entered their home and confiscated their personal belongings.
Hadi Rahimi and Sakineh Behjati were sentenced to 4 years and 2 years in prison , respectively, by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in August 2019 on charges including “membership in a group or gangs with the aim of disrupting the country’s security.” In October of the same year, this conviction was confirmed by Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal .
Hadi Rahimi was finally sent to Evin Prison on January 9 to serve his sentence.
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 belief, as well as the freedom to manifest it, individually or in community with others and in public or private .
Source: HRANA
