Christian woman released from prison during Covid-19 outbreak

A Christian woman temporarily released
from prison in Iran because of the
coronavirus pandemic has been told she
does not need to return to jail.
Fatemeh Bakhteri was one of thousands of
prisoners released on a temporary basis in
Iran as part of the country’s efforts to stem
the spread of Covid-19.
The 35-year-old was initially granted
temporary release from Evin prison but has
now been told by officials that she does
not have to return because she was
pardoned for the Persian New Year,
celebrated last month, Christian Solidarity
Worldwide (CSW) reports.
Ms Bakhteri, from Rasht, is a convert from
Islam and a member of the Church of Iran.
She was sentenced to a year in prison in
September 2018 for “spreading
propaganda against the regime”.
CSW reports that during the trial, the judge
offered Ms Bakhteri her freedom if she
returned to Islam. She was handed a
prison sentence after refusing to renounce
her Christian faith.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas
welcomed her release but criticised her
treatment at the hands of the regime.
He called the charges against her
“unfounded” and said they “amount to
criminalising Christian activities”.
“Ms Bakhteri has spent a year away from
her loved ones for discussing Christian
doctrine with fellow Christians, which is not
illegal,” he said.
“She is amongst many Iranians who are
being penalised for adopting a religion of
their choice, an action which is protected
under Article 18 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to
which Iran is party.
“Given the reported spread of COVID-19 in
the country’s prison system, CSW urges
the international community to press the
Iranian authorities to ensure the immediate
and unconditional release of all prisoners
of conscience, and to end the harassment
of religious communities.”