Three Iranian Christian converts from Islam, detained by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have been released on bail after ten days in detention.
Among them was Javad Amini, 40, who was arrested on 17 November and released on 27 November, the day after he was scheduled to appear in court.
Two women, unnamed, were arrested and released on the same days as Javad.
Javed Amini and his wife Farzaneh [Image credit: Article 18]
Javad and the two women were each required to pay 1 billion tomans ($27,500) for bail. All three had previously been arrested alongside more than 20 others at Christmas 2023.
At least 12 Christians from Nowshahr, northern Iran, had been due on 27 November to answer charges of “propagating a religion contrary to Islam” and “collaborating with foreign governments”.
IRGC agents also questioned Javad’s wife along with his uncle, who were both present at his arrest on 17 November. Agents subsequently visited the couple’s home and confiscated Bibles, Christian literature and notebooks Javad used for Biblical study.
Farzaneh was interrogated by both Ministry of Intelligence and IRGC agents, who used coarse language of a sexual nature in applying psychological pressure.
When the 12 Christians were summoned to court, the prosecutor described the converts as “Shia Muslims” who had “identified themselves as Christians during their defence … and this is supported by the messages exchanged in their phones”, as well as through the “Gospels and other Christian literature found in their possession”.
The prosecutor deduced that since the 12 had “set up groups to teach the Christian religion” they had committed a crime.
Unlike the historic Armenian- and Assyrian-speaking Christian communities, Farsi (Persian)-speaking Christians are invariably converts from Islam – that is, apostates – and therefore punishable according to Islamic law.
The trial on 26 November took place in Javad’s absence. The outcome has yet to be announced.
Give thanks for the release on bail of Javad and the two women. Ask the Lord to break through the rigid judicial system that punishes converts for choosing to follow Jesus. Pray that justice will be administered for them and the other Christian converts. Pray that they will all be released and able to practise their faith in peace.
