TEHRAN, Iran — A high court in Iran recently rejected retrial requests from several Christian converts.
The Iranian Supreme Court denied the requests from Abbas Souri, Fariba Dalir and Maryam Mohammadi, as well as Anooshavan Avedian, an Iranian Armenian. The human rights group International Christian Concern said Avedian, Souri and Mohammadi were arrested in November 2020 in a raid on a Christian gathering.
In May Avedian — accused of “propaganda against Islam” — received a 10-year prison term and a subsequent 10 years of his rights being deprived.
The rights of Souri and Mohammadi also were taken away for 10 years. However, they were restored upon appeal and their monetary penalties were reduced.
Dalir was arrested with six other Christians in July 2021 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. The following November, she received a five-year prison sentence, ICC reported. Her prison term later was reduced to two years, but the Iranian Supreme Court has denied her appeal for a conditional or temporary release.
Iran is No. 9 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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