TWO CHRISTIAN WOMEN IMPRISONED
Held with no legal counsel for over a month, they suffer illness in notorious prison.
LOS ANGELES, (CDN) -
Accused
of "acting against state security" and "taking part in illegal
gatherings," two Iranian Christian women have been held in a Tehran
prison for over a month in a crowded cell with no access to legal
representation.
Amnesty International, in an appeal for urgent action last week,
reported that authorities have made the accusations known but have
imprisoned the women without filing official charges. The organization
called on Iranian authorities to release them and expressed concern for
their health.
Maryam Rostampour, 27, and
Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, 30, who were active in church
activities and distributing Bibles according to Amnesty's appeal, were
arrested on March 5. They are being held in the detention center of
Evin Prison, a facility that has drawn criticism for its human rights
violations and executions in recent years. Amnesty's appeal included a
call to urge Iranian officials to ensure that the women are not being
tortured.
Based on a telephone conversation between Esmaeilabad and a third
party on March 28, Amnesty reported that Esmaeilabad said both are
suffering from infection and high fever and had not received adequate
medical care. The women continue to be detained in an overcrowded cell
with 27 other women. Amnesty said they "may be prisoners of conscience,
detained solely on account of their religious beliefs."
The women are allowed a one-minute call each day and a weekly visit
from family. Authorities have informed their family members that the
women are accused of "acting against state security" and "taking part
in illegal gatherings," according to the report, and that they would be
released after payment of a $400,000 bail. The families have presented
the title deeds of their homes as bail but are still waiting for
approval from the judge.
Initially the Ministry of Intelligence summoned one of the women,
and then took her to the apartment the two shared. There they were
officially arrested, and authorities confiscated computers, books and
Bibles. The two women were interrogated and held at different police
stations.
On March 18 they appeared before Branch 2 of the Islamic
Revolutionary Court in Tehran and subsequently transferred to Evin
Prison, said the report.
Even if the women are released on bail, they still have to stand
trial. Accusations have not included "apostasy," or leaving Islam,
though investigations are ongoing. It is not known whether the women
are converts from Islam.
Last September the Iranian Parliament approved review of a new
penal code calling for a mandatory death sentence for "apostates."
Under current law death sentences for apostasy have been issued only
under judicial interpretations of sharia (Islamic law).
Under the new penal code, male "apostates" would be executed, while
females would receive life sentences. The new code was sent to Iran's
most influential body, the Guardian Council, which is expected to rule
on it. The council is made up of six conservative theologians appointed
by Iran's Supreme Leader and six jurists nominated by the judiciary and
approved by Parliament. This council has the power to veto any bill it
deems inconsistent with the constitution and Islamic law.
Converts to Christianity in Iran risk harassment, arrest and attack
from authorities even though Article 23 of the Iranian Constitution
grants that individual beliefs are private and no one can be "molested
or taken to task" for holding them. Iran has also signed the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that
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," the covenant
states.
The last Iranian Christian convert from Islam executed by the
Iranian government was Hossein Soodmand in 1990. He was accused of
working as "an American spy." Since then at least six Protestant
pastors have been assassinated by unknown killers.
END
