An Iranian court has upheld verdicts against two Christians who were sentenced to prison terms after being found guilty of “spreading propaganda” against the regime, according to reports.
Saheb Fadaie, who is already serving a 10 year prison sentence for “acting against national security”, and Fatemeh Bakhteri were sentenced to 18 months and 12 months in prison respectively in September last year. Fadaie also received an additional two years sentence to remain in internal exile in a remote area close to the border with Afghanistan.
The pair were arrested at a house church in Rasht in May, 2017. They were first informed of their sentences in September last year. A final appeal was subsequently held in January but the pair – who are both reportedly members of the Church of Iran – were notified only last weekend of the decision.
UK-based religious freedom advocacy Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that local sources said the sentences had deemed discussions of Christian doctrine in house churches to be attacks on Islam.
Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of CSW, said in a statement that the sentences constituted “a grave violation of Iran’s constitutional and international legal obligations, and are illustrative of the heightened campaign of repression that has seen Christians receiving excessive charges and sentences merely for manifesting their religion in private and in community with others”.
“Many more are being punished for adopting a religion of their choice, which is protected under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is party,” he added.
“Moreover, the effective designation of Christian doctrine as an attack on Islam amounts to the criminalisation of the Christian faith. CSW urges the Iranian authorities to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Saheb Fadaie, Fatemeh Bakhteri, and all who have been arrested or imprisoned unjustly, and to end the harassment of peaceable religious communities.”
