7th August, 2014
An Iranian Christian pastor has been charged with "enmity against God" in what persecuted church advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide said might be a "worrying escalation in Iran’s campaign against converts to Christianity".
The UK-based organisation said Pastor Matthias Haghnejad, from the Church of Iran, was arrested on 5th July following a raid on his home during which Bibles, pamphlets and a computer were confiscated. It says it has received reports that the pastor was interrogated by a judge for two hours before being charged with the crime of Moharebeh or "enmity against God".
"The new charge against Pastor Matthias may herald a worrying escalation in Iran”s campaign against converts to Christianity, who had generally been charged with ‘action against state’, ‘action against the order’ or other national security crimes," the group said in a statement
It says that while the country’s Islamic Penal Code introduced in 2013 bans capital punishment for the crime of Moharebeh in cases which don’t involve use of a weapon, the charge is regularly levelled against political activists from ethnic minorities. Eight men have been executed for Moharebeh this year including Ahwazi Arab poet and cultural rights activist Hashem Shaabani and his colleague Hadi Rashedi.
Calling for international action to hold Iran to account on human rights abuses, Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s chief executive, has urged the Iranian Government to "end its harrassment of Pastor Matthias".
"Levelling a charge of warring against God against a man whose role and calling precludes violence and emphasises service and obedience to God is unjustifiable, implausible and tantamount to an indictment of Christianity itself," he said.
"These charges constitute a worrying escalation of Iran”s campaign against Christians, adding a sinister new component to the regime”s appalling litany of religious freedom violations. The fact that Iran continues to commit severe human rights violations, including executions without due process and on vague charges, while simultaneously seeking improved relations with other nations, is a matter of utmost concern."
– DAVID ADAMS
