A pastor and his wife have lost their appeals against prison sentences for national security-related crimes in Iran, including "conducting Evangelism," NGO Christian Solidarity Woldwide (CSW) reported Monday.
Iranian courts have sentenced Pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz to 10 years in prison for "conducting Evangelism" and "illegal house church activities," while his wife Shamiram Isavi was given a five-year sentence for "membership of a group with the purpose of disrupting national security" and "gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security." As noted by CSW, these charges seem more similar to normal church activities, rather than issues of national security.
Though the couple had been summoned numerous times for appeal hearings, each of the hearings were canceled for a variety of different reasons. The last hearing, which was initially scheduled for June 1, was canceled without any reason being provided.
On July 19, Bet-Tamraz was told by his lawyer that his appeal had been rejected, with no further appeals being possible, according to Article 18, a nonprofit that seeks to protect and promote freedom of religion in the Islamic Republic.
On August 11, Isavi was told that she had to report to Evin prison in Tehran by Sunday, August 16.
The couple's son, Ramiel, had also been imprisoned in Evin for four months after being arrested in 2019 while on a picnic with Christians. He was given an early release on February 27 due to the coronavirus pandemic spreading in the prison.
But while he was given early release, many Christians remain in Iranian prisons, many of which – such as Evin – are rife with COVID-19. One such individual, Yasser Mossayebzadeh, who was sentenced to 10 years for the national secrurity-related crime of "promoting Zionist Christianity," was one of 12 prisoners in Evin's Ward 8 to test positive for COVID-19 last week, CSW reported. He is stated to be severely ill. Another Christian prisoner, Mohammadreza Omidi, remains at risk of contracting the virus in the prison, despite having already served the entirety of his sentence.
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