Iran: Hearing postponed for Mary Mohammadi

Christian convert Mary (Fatemeh) Mohammadi is thankful for concern and support and that her court hearing scheduled for 2 March was postponed.

Mary (21) was arrested on 12 January near Azadi Square in Tehran while protests were underway following the downing Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran. For several weeks her whereabouts were unknown, causing friends and family much anxiety.

Mary was badly treated upon arrest, beaten, stripped and denied food for twenty-four hours. The memories of the humiliating treatment continue to upset her.

Mary was charged with “disrupting public order by participating in an illegal gathering” (the rally to protest the shooting down of the passenger plane) and on 26 February she was finally allowed release on bail of 30 million Tomans (more than US$ 2,000).

Her court hearing was scheduled for 2 March, but was postponed, apparently due to the spread of Coronavirus. Mary is happy the hearing has been delayed and in a recent Tweet thanked followers saying, ““I am grateful for all of you dear friends who have been concerned and followed my situation with concern.”

Mary was previously arrested at a house church in November 2017 and imprisoned in Evin Prison for six months, having been convicted of “membership in evangelical groups,” “engaging in Christian activities,” and “acting against national security through propagating against the regime.”

Since her initial imprisonment, Mary has been harassed and denied university education. She has been very open about her Christian faith and has been campaigning for the legal rights of Christian converts in Iran and the freedom to attend a Christian place of worship.