Maryam and Marzieh ... held prisoners in Iran for Christian faith

Maryam and Marzieh

On July 9, Atlas Shrugs wrote that two Iranian women had been arrested March 5, 2009, and were being held in an Iranian prison because of their Christian faith:

The two Iranian Christian women, Maryam Rustampoor (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh (30) continue to be held in Evin prison in Iran because of their Christian faith, unfairly labeled as ‘anti-government activists’, because of the hostility of the government towards practising Christians.

Worldwide, people were asked to remember Maryam and Marzieh in prayer. Saturday night I received an urgent email prayer request from a home school friend that showed the situation had become dire:

Please pray diligently this evening for the two young Muslim- background Christian women, Maryam and Marzieh, who have been in prison in Iran for some time for apostasy.

Their hearing is going to be at 11:00 Eastern U.S. time tonight. Apparently the judge has already given indication they will be sentenced to death. Some days ago we were told that the jailers are executing some women prisoners in front of the other women prisoners. Some as young as 14-15 years old are given to prison guards in marriage the night before execution simply because they do not want to execute virgins, as these two young women are.

If you have a prayer chain, please call this in immediately. If they are sentenced and unless God miraculously intervenes they will be raped all day tomorrow and beheaded Monday.

Prayers worldwide were offered last night for these two young ladies and for their safe release from prison. Sunday night an update came from the same home school friend:

In a dramatic session before the revolutionary court today in Tehran, Maryam Rustampoor (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh (30) were told to recant their faith in Christ. Though great pressure was put on them, both women declared that they would not deny their faith. Maryam and Marzieh were originally arrested on March 5, 2009 and have suffered greatly while in prison, suffering ill health, solitary confinement and interrogations for many hours while blindfolded.

On Saturday August 8, Maryam and Marzieh were summoned to appear in court on Sunday August 9 in order to hear a verdict on their case. The chief interrogator had recommended a verdict of ‘apostasy.’ However, when they arrived, no verdict was actually given. Instead, the court session focussed on the deputy prosecutor, Mr Haddad, questioning Maryam and Marzieh about their faith and telling them that they had to recant in both verbal and written form. This made it clear that in the eyes of the court, Maryam and Marzieh’s only crime is that they have converted to Christianity.
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At the end of the session, Mr. Haddad told them that a judge will give them his verdict, though it is not clear who will be the judge in their case now. He also allowed Maryam and Marzieh to have a lawyer represent them in the case for the first time since their arrest.

Both women are back in Evin prison tonight. During their five-month ordeal, both have been unwell and have lost much weight. Marzieh is in pain due to an on-going problem with her spine, as well as an infected tooth and intense headaches.She desperately needs medical attention. Two months ago the prison officials told her the prison had proper medical equipment and that they will attend to her, but so far no proper treatment has been given.
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Maryam and Marzieh’s case is a clear and harsh violation of human rights and religious liberty by Iran’s authorities. They deserve the support of all those who respect human rights and to be released without charges so they can pursue a life of freedom.

Please continue to pray for the safety of Maryam and Marzieh. Pray they will continue to experience the strengthening presence of God and that they will be a witness of the love and grace of Christ in Evin prison.

Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." -- Matthew 22:37

Related posts:
- Christian Solidarity Worldwide: Prayer and advocacy result in EU action on Iran
- Israeli Forum: IRAN: Maryam and Marzieh, Arrested Because of Christian Faith, In Danger of Being Forgotten