Christian convert released on bail after three weeks in detention

Iranian Christian Ebrahim Firouzi was released on bail on 27 February after being detained on fresh charges relating to blasphemy and national security on 8 February.

Mr Firouzi, 34, had been serving a two-year sentence of ‘internal exile’ in the remote town of Sarbaz in the south east following his release from prison on 26 October 2019, where he had been serving a five-year sentence. He was initially arrested in March 2013 and sentenced to one year in prison for “spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” After serving his sentence in Evin prison in Tehran, Mr Firouzi was not released, but instead was sentenced to a further five years in prison on charges related to national security.

According to human rights organisation Article Eighteen, Mr Firouzi was detained once again on 8 February on charges of “insulting the sacred” (blasphemy) and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic in favour of hostile groups,” after releasing a series of videos exposing the harassment he was experiencing from the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). He was released on 27 February, when bail of 50 million tomans (around $1,650) was posted for him. Mr Firouzi is also reported to have gone on a hunger strike during his detention, which he ended after being assured he would soon be released, and his case would be dismissed.

Mr Firouzi was the breadwinner of his family, which comprised his sister and younger brother, who was caring for their mother. His mother died of cancer in December 2018. Mr Firouzi was not allowed to attend her funeral. On 11 March 2020, Mr Firouzi’s two-year sentence for internal exile was extended by 11 months on the grounds that he had failed to seek permission before traveling to his home to take care of family affairs related to his mother’s death.

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: “CSW welcomes the release of Ebrahim Firouzi on bail; however, the harassment he continues to experience at the hands of the authorities while already in internal exile is deeply concerning. We call for the charges against Mr Firouzi to be dropped immediately and without condition, and for the Iranian authorities to overturn the sentence of internal exile he is currently serving. We also urge Iran to ensure the right to freedom of religion or belief is fully upheld for all citizens, and to cease the practice of targeting members of religious minority communities with spurious charges and other forms of harassment.”