UN Reporters Call for 'Fair Trial' for Three Christian Citizens

Four independent UN human rights reporters warned on Friday about 'severe discrimination' against religious minorities in Iran and urged Iranian authorities to ensure the fairness of the trial for three Christian citizens whose appeals are set to be heard in the coming days. Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, Amin Afshar Naderi, and Hadi Asgari have each been sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison, with UN human rights experts stating that 'promoting Christianity' is among the charges against them. In July, Mansour Borji, spokesperson for the Article 18 Committee, told Radio Farda that the Revolutionary Court judge in June 2017 sentenced Victor Bet Tamraz and Hadi Asgari to 10 years in prison and Amin Afshar Naderi to 15 years. He also mentioned that these three, along with Kavian Fallah Mohammadi, another Christian citizen who also received a 10-year sentence, have been banned from leaving the country for two years. Mr. Bet Tamraz had led the Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Tehran until its closure in March 1999, while Amin Afshar Naderi and Hadi Asgari are converts to Christianity accused of acting against national security through activities in house churches. Their case is set to be reviewed again on Sunday by the Revolutionary Court, where the court may acquit them of the charges, uphold the sentences, or refer their case to the Supreme Court. Now, Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, Fernand de Varennes, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, and Dainius Puras, the Special Rapporteur on the right to health, have called for these three to have a 'fair and transparent trial.' They stated, 'We are deeply concerned about the long prison sentences imposed in the previous court ruling based on the charges of 'promoting Christianity,' 'illegal activities in house churches,' and similar accusations that government officials claim are acts against national security.' The letter emphasized that these accusations and the sentences issued in this regard are 'completely contrary' to Iran's commitments under international law. They also expressed concern about the lack of access to medical care for these three Christian citizens, specifically the health status of Hadi Asgari, who remains in detention. The letter from the four independent UN reporters warned that the prosecution of these three Christian citizens is 'not a separate case' and that followers of the Christian minority in Iran, especially those who have converted to Christianity, face severe discrimination and religious persecution. The letter also emphasized that other reported cases indicate heavy sentences for Christian minority followers after accusing them of 'threatening national security,' whether they are converts or those attending house churches. They conclude that these cases reflect a worrying pattern of targeting individuals based on their religion or beliefs. The UN reporters have urged Iranian authorities to guarantee fair trials for all individuals, including followers of religious minorities in Iran, and to 'immediately and unconditionally' release all those detained or imprisoned due to their religion, beliefs, or exercise of freedom of expression. According to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, only followers of the three religions of Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity are recognized as religious minorities, but neither this group of Iranian citizens nor even Sunni Muslims or other followers of religions, such as Baha'is, enjoy complete freedom in practicing their religious rituals. The Islamic Republic specifically targets groups that promote and propagate Christianity, and every year, cases are brought before the Iranian judiciary that mostly lead to long-term imprisonment. Recently, Human Rights Watch reported that the Iranian government had a dismal record in 2017 regarding 'suppressing and violating freedom of expression, fair trials, gender equality, and religious freedoms.' The US State Department also criticized the violation of the rights of religious minorities in various countries, including Iran, in its annual report on religious freedoms published in July this year, specifically mentioning 'harassment, interrogation, and detention of Baha'is, Christians, Sunni Muslims, and other religious minorities' in Iran and 'severe control or banning of legal activities of Christian congregations aimed at preventing individuals from converting to this religion.' The violation of the freedoms of religious minorities in Iran has also drawn protests from other international bodies, including the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, which expressed concern over the continued violation of the freedoms of religious minorities.