Hamburg state parliament members accept political sponsorship of three Christian citizens
Three members of the Hamburg state parliament have taken on the political guarantors of three imprisoned Christian citizens.
According to the "Article 18" organization, three representatives from the Green and Social Democratic parties in the Hamburg state parliament took on the political sponsorship of three Christian citizens named "Mina Khajoui", "Mehdi (Yaser) Akbari", and "Abdolreza (Matthias) Alihaqnejad".
Green Party MP Gudrun Shitek posted on her personal X page: "I have taken on the political sponsorship of Mina Khajou. I call for the immediate release of Mina Khajou and the release of all prisoners in Iran who are in prison because of their religion and belief, such as Christians, Baha'is, and followers of other religions."
Mina Khajoui was transferred to prison despite being treated for injuries sustained in the accident and is currently serving a six-year prison sentence.
Dorothea Depermann, another Green Party representative, also assumed political sponsorship on April 5 for Mehdi Akbari, who is serving a ten-year prison sentence.
Also, Sarah Thiemann, a representative of the German Social Democratic Party, supported Matthias Alihaqnejad and took on his political sponsorship by publishing a picture of herself and her colleague outside the Islamic Republic's embassy. She called for the immediate release of this prisoner of conscience.
Matthias Alihaqnejad is a house church leader who was serving a six-year prison sentence in Anzali. In July of last year, he was transferred from Anzali Prison to a prison in Minab without prior notice. This deportation has placed double pressure on him and his family.
The aforementioned individuals, like other Christian citizens, were convicted by judicial authorities on charges of "acting against national security" and "disrupting the security of the country," without any valid evidence or documents.
According to reports from the Article 18 organization, individuals who have taken on political sponsorship of Christian citizens and political prisoners of conscience do not have executive power and cannot defend them in court like a lawyer, but they do have the power to use their political position and position to raise public awareness of the situation of the individual in danger and to pursue their rights in international forums by providing information about them. Accepting political sponsorship of a protester may be done by several representatives.
