The first case being considered by the Supreme Court for retrial is the prison sentences of Homayoun Zhaveh and Sara Ahmadi. Homayoun is sixty-two years old and has advanced Parkinson’s disease and was given a sentence of two years. His wife Sara, fort-three years old, was given eight years. Both are currently serving their sentences in Tehran.

The second case being considered is the removal of a young girl from her two adoptive parents, Sam Khosravi and Maryam Falahi. The parents adopted two-year-old Lydia and because they are Christian converts, the courts decided to remove her from their care since she is considered Muslim. Though Lydia is still with her adoptive parents, she could be taken from them any day now that the court’s decision has been made.

Regarding the potential for these cases to be heard by the Supreme Court, Article 18’s Mansour Borji said, “Just to know that the highest court in the land now has the power to rule in these cases is something to be thankful for, because even should the Supreme Court reject these cases – either now, or following a retrial – it would mean the Iranian regime would be forced to take responsibility for these unjust verdicts, and therefore leave them with no leg to stand on if they continue to claim that Christians enjoy equal rights and that no-one is persecuted on account of their beliefs in Iran.”

Four Christian converts, Ismail Narimanpour, Mohammad Ali Torabi, Alireza Vark Shah, and Hojjat Lotfi Khalaf, were arrested on the 19th of April and only held for two days’ detention before being released. Their release was conditional on the four signing commitments to have no further involvement in any Christian activities. However, they were told to expect further interrogation at any time.

During their interrogation, intelligence officials questioned them on their political views and pressured them to vote in the upcoming election. The pressure to vote is to bolster voter turnout and attempt to portray Iran as a truly democratic nation.

Source: persecution.org