Eight converts given prison sentences in Shiraz 19 July 2013 News The Revolutionary Court in Shiraz on Tuesday 16 July handed heavy jail sentences to eight members of the “Church of Iran”. Mohammad (Vahid) Roghangir was sentenced to six years in prison; Massoud Rezaei to five; Mehdi Ameruni and Bigan Farokhpour Haghighi to three; Shahin Lahooti and Soroush Saraei to two and a half; and Eskandar Rezaei and Roxana Forughi to one. They were convicted of “action against national security” and “propaganda against the regime”. All eight are expected to appeal. Seven of the eight were arrested in October at a “house church” meeting in Shiraz at the home of Mohammad Roghangir. The eighth, Massoud Rezaei, was arrested six days later. All eight were eventually released on bail after paying significant sums. Over the past few years, the use of national-security-related charges against prisoners of conscience has become a constant trend in the Islamic Republic’s judicial system, with the aim of providing a political tone to the activities of religious minorities and providing a legal basis for their conviction. Article18’s Advocacy Director, Mansour Borji, commented: “It is unfortunate that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in violation of its legal and international obligations, continues to persecute religious minorities, especially Persian-speaking Christians, by making false accusations such as ‘acting against national security’ against house-church members and their peaceful activities. “Article18 demands that Iran respects the legal rights of Persian-speakingChristians, providing them with true religious freedom in accordance with Article 18 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.” Quoting the contents of this article in part is permitted. However, no part of it may be used for any fundraising appeal, or for any publication where donations are requested. Share and spread the word! Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Click to print (Opens in new window) Print More Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket