Freed Iranian Christians still at risk of trial

          
          Further Information on UA: 95/09 Index: MDE 13/130/2009 Iran
          Date: 17 December 2009
          URGENT
          ACTION
          FREED IRAN IAN CHRISTIANS STILL AT RISK OF TRIAL
          Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, two Iranian female converts to
          Christianity, were released from Evin Prison on 18 November. Both have been acquitted of
          “acting against state security” but continue to face other charges relating to their conversion.
          Maryam Rostampour, aged about 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, aged about 30, were arrested on 5
          March 2009. Mostly held in Evin Prison, on 9 August, they appeared before a Tehran Revolutionary Prosecutor who
          urged them to recant their faith and return to Islam, which they refused to do. During this hearing, they were given
          permission to meet a lawyer for the first time since being arrested.
          On 7 October, they were unexpectedly taken to a branch of the Revolutionary Court, where the judge acquitted them
          of “acting against state security”, but reportedly referred other charges of “apostasy” and “propagation of
          Christianity” to a branch of the General Court. They were released on 18 November. Amnesty International is not
          aware of any date scheduled for a further court hearing.
          Apostasy and propagation of Christianity are not crimes under Iran's Penal Code, but judges are required to use their
          knowledge of Islamic law where codified law does not exist. Under Islamic Law, apostasy can carry the death
          penalty. On 19 November, the Iranian Embassy in Norway sent a rare reply to Amnesty International confirming the
          release of the two women but denying that they had been detained on account of their faith (please see additional
          information).
          PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:
          Welcoming the release of Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad on 11 November, and the
          response by the Iranian Embassy in Norway;
          Expressing concern that they remain at risk of prosecution for “apostasy” and “propagation of Christianity” which
          could lead to the imposition of the death penalty;
          Urging that any charges against them relating solely to their peaceful expression of their right to freedom of religion
          be dropped, as if convicted and imprisoned on such charges, they would be prisoners of conscience and Amnesty
          International would call for their immediate and unconditional release.
          PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE
          Head of the Provincial Judiciary in
          Te h ran
          Mr All RezaAvaei
          Karimkhan Zand Avenue
          Sana'i Avenue, Corner of Ally 17, No
          152
          Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
          Email: avaei@Dadgostary-tehran.ir
          Salutation: Dear Mr Avaei
          28 JANUARY 2010 TO:
          Head of the Judiciary
          Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani
          Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh
          (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
          Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of
          Serah-e Jomhouri
          Tehran, 1316814737
          Islamic Republic of Iran
          Email: via website:
          http:llwww.dadiran.irltabid/75/Default.a
          spxFirst starred box: your given name;
          second starred box: your family name;
          third: your email address
          Salutation: Your Excellency
          And copies to:
          Director. Human Rights Headquarters
          Mohammad Javad Larijani
          Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh
          Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of
          Serah-e Jomhuri
          Tehran 1316814737
          Islamic Republic of Iran
          Fax: +98 21 3390 4986
          Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com (In the
          subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad
          Larijani)
          Salutation: Dear Mr Larijan
          Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above
          date. This is the first update of UA 95/09, MDE 13/030/2009. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/O30/2009/en
          AMNESTY
          INTERNATIONAL
        

          
          Date: 17 December 2009
          URGENT ACTION
          FREED IRAN IAN CHRISTIANS STILL AT RISK OF TRIAL
          ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
          Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad appeared before Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on 18
          March after which they were taken to Evin Prison where they remained till their release. In early May they were transferred to
          solitary confinement in Section 209 of Evin Prison, but after the post-election unrest which began in June, they were transferred
          to a women's ward, apparently to make space for those newly detained.
          Although Christianity is a recognized religion in Iran, evangelical Christians, some of whom have converted from Islam, often face
          harassment by the authorities. Converts from Islam can risk arrest, attack or the death penalty. Conversion from Islam (apostasy)
          is forbidden under Islamic Law, which requires apostates to be put to death if they refuse to reconvert to Islam. There is no
          specific provision in the Iranian Penal Code for apostasy, but judges are required to use their knowledge of Islamic Law to rule on
          cases where no specific legislation exists in the Penal Code. In June it was reported that an article criminalising apostasy in a
          new version of the Penal Code currently under discussion in the parliament had been dropped; however it could be reinstated by
          the Council of Guardians which vets all legislation for conformity to the Constitution and Islamic law.
          In Iran, Revolutionary Courts hear certain categories of crimes, such crimes against state security (including espionage, armed
          insurrection and conspiracy), crimes under the Anti-narcotics law, slander of the Founder or Leader of the Islamic Republic, and
          certain crimes of economic corruption. General Courts hear other categories of crimes.
          Article 23 of the Iranian Constitution states: “The investigation of individuals' beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested
          or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.” Article 18 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
          (ICCPR), to which Iran is a state party, states: “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This
          right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community
          with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.”
          On 18 November, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Norway sent the following response:
          The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has recently received some letters (most of them without address, email or any
          other contact) signed by Norwegian citizens, concerning two Iranian Christian women Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh
          Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, claiming they have been arrested and jailed in Iran since 5 March 2009 because of their religion.
          The Embassy would like to inform the following points about this case:
          1) They have recently been freed before completing their judicial procedure and even no bail has been taken from them.
          2) In Iran nobody is prosecuted or arrested because of her or his faith and Christianity is a recognized religion. According to
          our information, Mss. Maryam Rostam pour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad have been arrested because they have private
          complainanL
          3) Their file in Judiciary is still open.
          It would be appreciated to publish this answer to the writers of the letters and publish it through a proper manner for awareness
          of Norwegian public opinion and Christian community.
          Amnesty International believes that the Iranian Embassy statement that there is a private complainant in their case and that their
          file is still open is consistent with the information the organization has received, but that the statement “ [ un Iran nobody is
          prosecuted or arrested because of her or his faith” does not fit the facts, as these two women are facing charges clearly related to
          their new faith.
          Further Information on UA: 95/09 Index: MDE 13/130/2009 Issue Date: 17 December 2009
          AMNESTY
          INTERNATIONAL