18 November 2009
Iranian Christians Maryam and Marzieh freed from jail!
Iranian Christians, Maryam Rostampour (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabond (30), have today been released from prison following nine months incarceration in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran.
An Open Doors advocacy campaign generated over 3,500 letters from Christians in the UK calling for the release of the two ladies. Although Maryam and Marzieh have now been released without bail and are at home with their families, details of their release remain uncertain and could yet include future court appearances and various restrictions on their freedom.
Eddie Lyle, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, said; Nothing has brought me more joy in recent days than the release of our dear sisters. The entire incident is a 21st century book of Acts experience. Their defence before the court and their courage in prison has been an inspiration both to me personally and to the thousands of Christians who took action on their behalf. God can still open prison doors.
The women were arrested on 5 March 2009 without charge by the Iranian authorities. After a month of being held in detention, the ladies were accused of 'taking part in illegal gatherings' and 'acting against state security'. In an ensuing appearance in court they were warned that they should renounce their Christian faith in both verbal and written form; they repeatedly refused to do this. In another court appearance charges of 'anti-state activities', 'propagation of the Christian faith' and 'apostasy' were filed against them.
Evin prison has drawn criticism for its repeated violations of human rights and the capital punishments carried out in its detention centre. While Maryam and Marzieh did not undergo direct physical torture, they endured a lack of proper health care and are suffering from a number of minor ailments as a result.
Notes to Editors:
Founded in 1955, Open Doors is an international charity serving persecuted Christians in over 50 countries around the world. Its work involves:
- Raising awareness of persecuted Christians, seeking to mobilise the church in the UK to pray and support their Christian family overseas.
- Strengthening the faith of Christians behind closed borders through printing and delivering Bibles, Christian literature and teaching/training materials
- Befriending and caring for persecuted Christians by visiting them, writing letters and praying for them
- Enabling believers at risk to earn a living by providing livelihood and literacy training and socio economic assistance
- Advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians, seeking to influence those with political power on their behalf.