Iran (MNN) ― Iran's nuclear games have the global spotlight focused on them once more. That is actually good news for imprisoned Christians facing apostasy charges. Case in point: Maryam Rustampoor (mar-ee-yam roos-tam-poor) and Marzieh Amirizadeh (mar-jzeh ah-mur-ih-jza-deh) remain behind bars at Tehran's notorious Evin prison for seven months after their arrests, but they're still alive.
According to Open Doors USA, on Oct. 26 the U.S. State Department designated Iran, along with seven other countries, as "Countries of Particular Concern" because of their religious repression.
The Islamic Republic reportedly imprisoned, harassed and intimidated people based on their religious beliefs, while government-controlled broadcast and print media intensified negative campaigns against religious minorities, the report said. Iran is ranked No. 3 on Open Doors' World Watch List of countries in which Christians suffer the most severe persecution.
Carl Moeller with Open Doors says, "This is a highly problematic case for them because if they treat these women inhumanely and the world watches, the whole world will call Iran for what it is--a horrible regime. If they let them go, or in some way are seen internally as being soft on this, they're going to face a domestic backlash. So it's really a difficult situation."
Both women face charges of propagation of the Christian faith and apostasy in Iran.
They've been in solitary confinement and are now held in an overcrowded cell with more than 20 women. If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison.
Continue to pray for Maryam and Marzieh as they are now back in prison, awaiting their next hearing. Pray for their health as they have been denied proper medical treatment apart from care Maryam received for severe food poisoning. Pray that they will continue to shine the light of Christ among their fellow prisoners. Pray that all charges will be dropped and that they will be released soon.
Moeller says now is the time to call for the release of these women. "If people don't know that others are praying for them, they think that they're going through this all alone, and that's really quite dangerous. That's why we try to take up the cause as much as possible to let people know."
In the face of great pressure to recant their faith, both women have declared they will not deny their Christianity.
Ironically, the harder the regime clamps down, the faster the church grows. You can help. The how and why are on our Web site.
The Open Doors USA advocacy department is launching a campaign asking people to send a respectful message to Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee, who is Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York City. The e-mail messages will be sent to the government in Iran as well. The letters will ask for the immediate release of Maryam and Marzieh.
A sample email letter to send is located at the Open Doors USA Web site at www.OpenDoorsUSA.org. Please do not refer to Open Doors in your e-mail.
