Christian women in London held a prayer vigil September 12 for the release of two Iranian Christian converts.
England (MNN) ― On Saturday, September 12, Iranian Christian women held a prayer vigil outside the Iranian embassy in London for the release of two female converts who have been imprisoned for six months.
Dressed in white, they stressed the plight of the two Christian women whose health has begun to deteriorate "due to the overcrowded conditions and limited facilities," stated on the International Christian Concern Web site.
The vigil was organized by Iranian Christian women and supported by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), according to ICC. CSW identifies itself as a human rights organization specialized in defending the persecuted Christians around the world.
Since March 5, Maryam Rustampoor, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30, have been held in Evin prison in Teheran. There they have been deprived of proper medical care and often blindfolded and interrogated for hours. After being held for five months, they were tried on August 9 and told to recant their faith, ICC reports. When they refused, they were sent back to prison and faced charges of apostasy, which under Islamic "Sharia" law means death.
CSW petitioned the Iranian government to release the innocent women. According to ICC, Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of CSW, said, "We wholeheartedly stand in solidarity with Maryam and Marzieh, who are being held solely on the basis of exercising their most basic right: freedom of thought, conscience and belief."
To sign a petition for the release of these two women or for information about ICC and their work, visit their Web site
