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Iran Sentenced Protestant clergyman to three years in prison  


Tehran (AsiaNews/Compass) ­ A Tehran military court sentenced Hamid Pourmand, an Iranian Protestant clergyman, to three years in prison.
Reverend Pourmand converted to Christianity 25 years ago and was serving as an army colonel until his arrest. He was found guilty of deceiving the Iranian armed forces by not declaring when he acquired officer rank that he was a convert from Islam to Christianity. Under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is illegal for a non-Muslim to serve as a military officer.
During his trial, Pourmand's attorney produced several documents in which his client's military superiors had acknowledged years ago that he was a Christian. He had even been excused by his commander from observing the Muslim month of fasting, an exemption granted only to non-Muslims. Never the less, the court ruled that Colonel Pourmand was guilty of giving false testimony and producing falsified documents. Its verdict came during the second and final hearing of his military trial that had begun in late January.
Colonel Pourmand (see photo, with his family) was arrested in September of last year during a raid against a meeting of the Assembly of God, a Protestant Church in which he serves as a pastor.
Initially, it was feared that the charge of 'military espionage' might lead to a death sentence. He was later charged with 'apostasy', which under Iran's Criminal Code carries the death penalty, and 'proselytising'.
Following the Court's decision, Nina Shea, director of the Washington's Center for Religious Freedom, called on the Iranian government to immediately release him.
"This is a shocking travesty of justice, even by Iran's meagre standards," Ms Shea said.
A delegation from the European Union that was visiting Iran also asked Iranian authorities to release the Protestant clergyman and respect religious freedom in the country.
"Hamid Pourmand," Ms Shea added, "is serving hard prison time for peacefully exercising his right to free conscience under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." The fact that he "changed his religion before the revolutionary Islamic regime came to power and has documents showing that he openly lived a Christian life the past quarter century did not protect him from the ideology of hatred against other religions, including other Muslim interpretations, that underpins the Iranian judiciary." (LF)

Only this page has complete links to all articles 

Who are the Christians of Iraq? 

The persecution of the Christians in Iraq March 2, 2005

Relentless pressures drive Christians from the Middle East  March  1, 05

Iran Sentenced Protestant clergyman to three years in prison  March 1, 05 

Demonstrators Protested The disenfranchisement of the Assyrians in Iraqi Elections in Front of UN  Feb. 27, 05

Assyrian Christians of Iraq wanted to vote but were not allowed. Feb. 27, 05

Is Christianity Growing in Iram? Feb. 26, 05

Letters of Protest to the Independant Elections Council of iraq  Feb. 24, 05 

Assyrians a forgotten minority  Feb. 24, 05 

SAT-7 to Broadcast First TV Show Made by and about Iraqi Christians Feb. 24, 05

Iraqi Assyrians are victims of Kurdish ethnic cleansing Feb, 23, 05

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Assyrians from the fall Nineveh to the Present Feb. 20, 05

Iraqi Prelate Confident Exiled Christians Will Return Feb. 20, 05

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Iraq Overseas Voter Registration Extended   Jan. 22, 05

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A Look At Iran's Christian Minority Jan. 1- 05

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Christians flee genocide as fear sweeps Iraq  Jan. 8, 05

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The Advantages of a Governate Region Versus Safe Heaven  Dec. 1. 04

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Iraqi Christians Face Escalating violence: Urgent Appeal For Help  Nov. 4, 04

Update of Opression and Murder of the Assyrians in Iraq Nov. 4, 04

Two Assyrians Killed in Syria  NOv. 3, 04

Assyrian Family Attacked in Baghdad, Two Killed  NOv. 2, 04

Restoring Sanity to Iraq  Oct. 25, 04

Apeal for an Administration region for the Christians of Iraq  Oct. 24, 04

Kurd's Confiscation of Assyrian Villages  Oct. 25, 04

Christians of Iraq under Siege Oct. 25, o4

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