Christian citizens Mehran Shamloui and Abbas Souri sentenced to more than 25 years in prison
"Mehran Shamloui" and "Abbas Souri", Christian citizens, were sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court.
Haran Shamloui, 43, and Abbas Souri are Christian citizens and residents of Tehran who, along with Narges Nasri, were arrested on November 1 by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence for forming a house church in Tehran and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison. They were released from Evin Prison on December 1 after posting bail of two billion tomans each.
Their interrogation session was held in January at Branch 2 of the Tehran Public Prosecutor's Office, and the court hearing of the case of these two people was held on February 15 at Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. According to the verdict that was delivered to them yesterday, March 9, by Judge "Iman Afshari", the head of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, Mehran Shamloui and Abbas Souri were sentenced to a total of 25 years and eight months in prison, 30 years of deprivation of social rights, and a fine of 580 million tomans for charges of "propaganda activity contrary to Islamic law in terms of contact with abroad in an effective manner and the depth of extensive criminal acts (with one degree increase) and membership in opposition groups in the country."
The details of the sentences issued against Abbas Suri and Mehran Shamloui are as follows: "Abbas Suri has been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, deprivation of social rights for 15 years, a fine of 330 million Tomans, and 5 years of imprisonment for membership in opposition groups in the country. He has also been sentenced to additional penalties of a ban on leaving the country, a ban on residing in Tehran province and neighboring provinces, and a ban on membership in social groups and organizations for two years.
Mehran Shamloui has also been sentenced to 8 years in prison, a fine of 250 million Tomans, deprivation of social rights for 15 years, and 2 years and 8 months in prison for being a member of opposition groups in the country, on charges of propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law.
The arrest of Christian citizens, the issuance of long prison sentences, and heavy fines by the Islamic Republic government, while the Islamic Republic is a signatory to Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, according to which “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, observance, practice, and teaching.”
