Iranian Christian man Ebrahim Firouzi has been released from prison where he was serving a five-year sentence on charges related to national security.
Advocacy groups have welcomed the news of the release of Firouzi – who is now expected to serve a two year sentence of internal exile in a remote part of Iran – while maintaining he should have never been imprisoned in the first place.
Ebrahim Firouzi.
“He was punished for adopting a religion of his choice, despite his right to do so being enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is party,” said Kiri Kankhwende, public affairs team leader for UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW.
“His detention is an indicator of the ongoing campaign by the Iranian government to criminalise Christianity. We call upon the Iranian government to drop the sentence of internal exile, which will take him away from his family for a further two years, and to ensure the release of every prisoner of thought, conscience and belief.”
Middle East Christian Concern reports Firouzi says he is in good health and has been very happy to receive calls from friends. He has requested prayer for a friend in prison with urgent needs as well as himself, especially for “patience when he begins to feel upset and angry”.
The 33-year-old Christian convert from the town of Robat-Karim, situated about 25 kilometres south-west of Tehran, was first arrested with two others in March, 2013 and sentenced to a year in prison for “spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran”. Having served his sentence in Evin prison in Tehran, he was not released however, but instead sentenced to a further five years on charges related to national security and being present at an illegal gathering. He was also sentenced to an additional two years of ‘internal exile’ in Sarbaz in Baluchestan province, near the border with Pakistan.
He had been transferred to Rajaei Shahr prison in Karaj was was reportedly released from there on 26th October, He is now expected to serve the two year ‘internal exile’ sentence.
When imprisoned, CSW reports that Firouzi was the breadwinner of his family, which comprised his sister and younger brother, who was caring for their mother. When his mother died of cancer in December, 2018, Firouzi was not allowed to attend her funeral.
