Iranian Christians have requested prayer for an appeal hearing, to be held tomorrow (19 February), in the case of Assyrian Christian Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh.
On 6 January 2018, Shamiram was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by Judge Ahmadzadeh of Tehran Revolutionary Court for acting against national security and acting against the regime by organising small groups, attending a seminary abroad and training church leaders and pastors to ‘act as spies’.
During the appeal hearing on 9 May 2018, which lasted about three hours, the prosecutor and the judge spoke disrespectfully to Shamiram and accused the whole family of a variety of unsubstantiated crimes against the regime. Shamiram’s lawyer was allowed to speak, but Shamiram herself was not given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
Shamiram’s husband, Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, was sentenced on 4 July 2017 to ten years’ imprisonment for acting against national security. Together with pastor Victor, three Christian converts, Amin Afshar Naderi, Kavian Fallah Mohammadi and Hadi Asgari also received prison sentences of between ten and fifteen years for similar ‘offences’. Their sentences are under appeal after a preliminary hearing on 25 April 2018.
Prayer Points
Iranian Christians request prayer that:
- The Lord will touch the judge’s heart and that he will act justly in the case against Shamiram
- Justice will be upheld in the hearing for Shamiram and that she will be acquitted of all the charges held against her.
- The Lord will strengthen and encourage Shamiram, Pastor Victor and all those Iranian Christians who are falsely accused of acts against national security simply because of their Christian faith and activities.
