Iran Releases Two Christian Women from Evin Prison
November 19, 2009 – 9:49 amNo bail required; charges of ‘proselytizing’ and ‘apostasy’ remain.
CDN:
by Damaris Kremida
ISTANBUL, November 18 - Two Christian Iranian women, Maryam Rostampour, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, 30, were released from prison this afternoon with no bail amid an international campaign calling for their freedom since their arrest on March 5.
They still could face charges of proselytizing and “apostasy,” or leaving Islam. The two women, whose health deteriorated while in detention at the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, are at their homes recovering from their nine-month ordeal, an Iranian source told Compass.
The women’s lawyer had been working to secure their release, and although they were expected to be released yesterday, he was not able to do so because of the high bail the court was demanding.
The Compass source said that it was too soon to determine how the lawyer was able to secure their release without bail today, a rarity for Christians released from prison in Iran.
The source credited their release to international lobbying and pressure on the Iranian government. “It was from the international pressure, and also the government couldn’t handle it anymore,” said the source. ”
Already their detention was illegal. At the same time, the government wasn’t ready to prosecute them for apostasy. They already have many headaches. They cannot handle everything.”
Read the full article.
We can rejoice that God has answered the prayer of his children around the world in the release of these two women! It is also a reminder that in his sovereign, mysterious wisdom God does answer prayer.
Other pertinent articles on Iran.
UPDATE per the Compass Direct News:
In Compass Direct News’ Nov. 18, “Iran Releases Two Christian Women from Evin Prison,” the sentence on Iran’s draft penal code possibly including a mandatory death penalty for apostates should be replaced with:
An article mandating death for apostates in accordance with sharia (Islamic law) reportedly has been stricken from a draft penal code, but experts on Iran say The Council of Guardians and Iran’s Supreme Leader still have the final say on who receives capital punishment for leaving Islam.
Our apologies for the error. – Eds.
