Iran: Another Christian woman imprisoned for involvement in house church

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A second Christian woman has begun a two-year prison sentence in Iran because of her involvement with a local house church, Article 18 reports.

Sakine Mehri Behjati handed herself in to Evin prison the same day as her fellow Christian Fariba Dalir, who is also serving a two-year sentence on similar charges.

Handing herself into Evin prison in Tehran on April 28, Mehri was arrested in February 202 together with four other members of her house church in Rasht, Article 18 reports.

All four believers were charged with “acting against national security” and with “spreading Zionist Christianity” because they are members of a house church.

Appearing in court, the believers were given sentences ranging from five to two years in prison, Article 18 reports.

In a website statement about the attitude of the Iranian regime toward Christians, advocacy group Open Doors USA said: “Converts from Islam to Christianity are most at risk of persecution, especially by the government … The government sees the growth of the church in Iran as an attempt by Western countries to undermine Islam and the Islamic regime of Iran. House groups made up of converts from Muslim backgrounds are often raided, and both their leaders and members have been arrested, prosecuted, and given long prison sentences for “crimes against national security.”

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