Iran: Three pastors remain imprisoned for “acting against national security”

                  

The Iranian regime’s judiciary officially charged three Iranian pastors with “acting against national security” and “association with the aim to overthrow the system (the Iranian regime).

Pastors Behnam Irani, Matthias Haghnejad and Deacon Silas Rabbani were charged at the so-called 1st Branch of the Revolutionary Court on Tuesday in city of Karaj.

Pastor Haghnejad, Pastor Irani and Deacon Rabbani, who are being held separately in Ghezal Hesar Prison, had recently been charged with 'Mofsed-e-filarz', or 'spreading corruption on earth', which carries a death sentence.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: “it is completely unacceptable that they have faced trial once again on unwarranted charges and that their unjust prison terms may be extended even further," BosNewsLife reported.

Mr. Thomas also condemned the execution of Mr. Amir Aslani adding that his “execution is emblematic of the arbitrary nature of the Iranian judicial system and the flagrant disregard of the nation’s highest judicial authority for the rule of law and justice."

"Some in the West are calling for renewed relations with Iran in the face of the threat posed in Iraq and Syria by [Islamic State] ISIL [militants]. However, it is worth noting that Mr Amir-Aslani was one of six people executed on the same day that the British Prime Minister met with President Rouhani at the United Nations," Thomas said.

"It is highly debatable whether a country that severely represses its own religious and ethnic minorities and conducts an average of two executions a day can contribute meaningfully towards resolving a conflict that is itself fuelled by religious sectarianism and an intolerance of indigenous minority communities.”