Iran: Notorious judge intervenes in court hearing

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has learned that during a court hearing on 14 June for four members of the Church of Irandenomination in Rasht, who are charged with “action against national security”, a judge who is notorious for issuing harsh sentences unexpectedly entered the room and made a comment criticising Christians.

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie were summoned to the 26^th Chamber of the Revolutionary Tribunal on 14 June, where in addition to informing them that a verdict would be delivered within 20 days, the presiding judge, Judge Ahmadzadeh, also accused the church of receiving £500,000 per year from the British government.

In a worrying development, Judge Abolghasem Salavati, who heads the 15^th Branch of the Revolutionary Court and is known for issuing harsh sentences, entered the court room during the proceedings and announced that “Christians make foolish claims.”

Judge Salavati is notorious for carrying out miscarriages of justice in high-profile trials involving foreign political activists, lawyers, journalists and ethnic and religious minorities. He is also known for delivering lengthy prison sentences and ordering that defendants be lashed. In many cases, he has ordered the execution of defendants. His unexpected intervention may indicate that the presiding judge is under pressure from the Secret Police to pronounce a pre-determined verdict and deliver a harsh sentence.

The four men were arrested on 13 May, during a series of raids by security service (VEVAK) agents on Christian homes in Rasht. A ruling on their case was expected prior to Iranian New Year on 21 March; however, the decision to refer the case to authorities in Tehran delayed the sentencing. If found guilty, the men could face a maximum of five or six years in prison. A ruling is also overdue for a decision on an appeal by Mr Omidi, Mr Mossayebzadeh and Mr Fadaie against a sentence of eighty lashes each for drinking wine during a Communion service.

CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas, said: “It is both puzzling and troubling to hear of Judge Salavati’s unwarranted intervention in the trial of these four Christians, which was clearly designed to intimidate. Also worrying is the fact that a derogatory statement about a religion that is recognized in the national constitution was uttered in open court by someone who is responsible for dispensing justice. We reiterate that the national security charges levelled against these men are spurious and an indication that the authorities persist in criminalising the Christian community for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief. We urge the Iranian government to dismiss the charges against them, and to cancel the outstanding charges against Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie. The international community must press the Government of Iran to uphold its obligations to respect the right of all of its citizens to freedom of religion or belief, as outlined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which it is signatory, and to respect provisions within its own constitution that recognise Christianity and it’s practices.”