THE blasphemy trial of five members from the Church of Iran has been adjourned due to a lack of evidence.
According to a news release from human rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the trial of Pastor Behrouz Sadegh-Khandjani, Mehdi Furutan, Mohammad Beliad, Parviz Khalaj and Nazly Beliad has been adjourned until April 12 in order to give the prosecution more time to gather evidence.
CSW said lawyers representing the five men have consistently maintained that there are no legal grounds for the blasphemy charges, and remain optimistic that the case will eventually be dismissed.
According to CSW news release, in an earlier trial at the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, the five men were handed a one-year sentence for Crimes against the Islamic Order, which their legal team believes will also be withdrawn on appeal.
CSW’s national director Stuart Windsor said in the news release: “CSW urges the Iranian government to ensure that these men receive due process, and are acquitted of all charges that have no legal bearing under Iranian law.”
He added, “However, we remain concerned for Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, who awaits an appeal against his death sentence for apostasy, and for the seven Baha’i leaders detained since 2008, who recently had their 20-year prison sentence reinstated, despite already enduring 30 months of detention without trial. The international community must press Iran to end the arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of religious minorities purely on account of their faith.”
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) works for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights.
For further information, visit CSW website.
