Missions, The Persecuted Church Across the World

Iran: Christian convert faces propaganda charge – September 30th 2020

Middle East Concern, September 29, 2020

Iranian Christians are thankful that a new charge against convert Ebrahim Firouzi has been rejected through lack of evidence and the case closed.

In 2013, Ebrahim was arrested and sentenced to 1 year in prison and 2 years of internal exile for “propaganda against the regime by establishing and organising Christian gatherings” and “having contacts with anti-revolutionary networks outside Iran.”

In March 2015 he was retried and sentenced to an additional 5 years in prison on charges of “acting against national security by gathering and collusion.”

In November 2019, after completing the consecutive prison sentences, Ebrahim started serving the 2-year period of exile near the border with Pakistan. On 12 March he was notified that his exile had been extended by 8 months for violating its terms, and an additional 3 months for failing to appear for a daily signing in.

On, 27 September, Ebrahim had to appear before the prosecutor in Rask to answer a charge of “propaganda against the state,” carrying a prison sentence of 3 to 12 months. Thankfully, on 28 September, the prosecutor closed the case against him for lack of evidence.