Iranians Arrested for being Christian Face Execution

by George Whitten, Worthy News International Correspondent

MASHHAD, Iran (Worthy News)-- Three Christians are being threatened with the death penalty if they do not renounce their Christian faith and revert back to Islam.

Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) reports that three Iranian Christians, residents of the city of Mashhad, were charged with apostasy and have been jailed since July 28, 2010.

Reza (AKA Stephen), his wife Maria, and Ehsan Behrooz were ambushed and arrested while traveling from the city of Mashhad to Bojnoord to attend a Christian fellowship. Reports indicate that between 11-15 people were arrested and kept in custody for one week. However, they were released after posting bail and signing written promises to the government to refrain and renounce their faith.

However, Stephen, Maria, and Ehsan have refused to sign any documents and deny their faith.

According to sources close to the case, the families of the Christians were informed that after more than 50 days of re-conversion efforts back to Islam through means of torture and solitary confinement, they have been unwilling to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ.

Now Iranian government officials demand that the families, during court-approved visitations must persuade their loved ones to renounce their Christian faith and embrace Islam once again.

The families were informed if their loved ones refuse to cooperate with the government, charges of apostasy will be upheld, and they will be tried on these charges in an upcoming court session.

According to the criminal code of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the charge of apostasy is death by hanging if found guilty by the Islamic court.

In 1990, Rev. Soodmand was executed by the same district court.

In a recent ranking of countries in which Christians are most persecuted, Iran ranked second only to North Korea.
[link to www.worthynews.com]