The persecution of Amin Khaki, Milad Goodarzi and Alireza Nourmohammadi is not unique. The Iranian government often targets converts to Christianity as apostates, which is a criminal offense in Iran. However, in this case they were charged with “engaging in propaganda against the Islamic regime.” As they were not engaging in political activity, but only preaching the Gospel, that charge comes close to criminalizing the very practice of the Christian faith, or of any faith that is contrary to Islam.
For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of Iran, see here.
“Three Christians receive five-year prison sentences,” Christian Solidarity Worldwide, June 29, 2021:
Three Christians from the Church of Iran denomination have each been sentenced to five years in prison and fined four million Rials (approximately GBP 64.00) by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, northern Iran.
Amin Khaki, Milad Goudarzi and Alireza Nourmohammadi received the sentences on 26 June, after being convicted of “engaging in propaganda against the Islamic regime.” All three are appealing the verdict.
The three Christians stood trial in Karaj on 21 June 2021, charged with “sectarian activities” under a new amendment to the Iranian penal code. CSW’s sources report that during the trial the men were prevented from being represented by their lawyer, despite the fact that he had fulfilled all the necessary requirements for participation ten days before the trial began….
