Maryam and Marzieh have been released from prison

Thank you for praying and campaigning on behalf of Maryam Rostampour (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad (30)

It is with great joy that Open Doors can confirm the release of these two Iranian Christians from prison on Wednesday 18 November. For over 9 months the two ladies have been held in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran.

On Sunday 15 November Open Doors was informed that Maryam and Marzieh might be released the next day but it did not happen. On Wednesday 18 November one of Open Doors' field-workers shared: "I am glad to let you know that Maryam and Marzieh are now set free without bail and that they are currently at home."

"Words are not enough to express our gratitude to the Lord and to His people who have prayed and worked for our release," the two women said in a statement from Elam Ministries.

An Iranian source told Compass Direct that the ladies' release was due to "international pressure, and also the government couldn't handle it anymore," said the source. "Already their detention was illegal. At the same time, the government wasn't ready to prosecute them for apostasy. They already have many headaches. They cannot handle everything."

Although the discharge is great news for Maryam and Marzieh (who turns 31 on 25 November) we still await confirmation about whether their release is unconditional. In recent releases of detained Christians, Open Doors notes that it appears to be common practice for the Iranian authorities to indicate that there will be court hearings in the future or that former prisoners have to sign restricting documents. It could then take months or even several years before any action is undertaken.

In recent years Evin prison has drawn criticism from various Human Rights organisations for the violations of human rights and capital punishments that are being carried out in the detention centre. As far as we know, Maryam and Marzieh have not faced direct physical torture while being detained, but the denial of proper health care resulted in suffering which could have been prevented.

Their physical condition deteriorated over the duration of their 259-day-long detention. No medical attention was given when suffering from infections, high fever and stomach aches. Marzieh was in pain because of an ongoing problem with her spine, an infected tooth treated only with painkillers and severe headaches.

Please keep praying for Maryam and Marzieh

Being released does not automatically mean living in complete freedom now. Please ask God to protect the two ladies
Also pray for their health, that they swiftly receive proper health care
Pray for the wider Iranian church which continues to face much pressure. The Assemblies of God Church in central Tehran was recently ordered to stop organising services in Farsi from 30 October onwards.

Please note our advocacy campaign is now on hold

We will continue to campaign for Maryam and Marzieh if appropriate.

Further information about Maryam and Marzieh

Maryam and Marzieh come from a Muslim background and shared a home. They were arrested in March 2009 and were detained in prison until 18 November.

They were interrogated at the Police and Security Station 137 in Gysha before being taken to Vozara Detention Centre. Reports suggest that psychological pressure, including sleep deprivation, was used as part of their interrogation.

On 18 March they were taken to Branch 2 of the National Security Section of the Revolutionary Court before being sent to Evin prison where they have spent some time in solitary confinement. At present, they are held in an overcrowded cell with more than 20 other women.

They faced charges of 'propagation of the Christian faith' and 'apostasy'. If convicted, they could have faced life imprisonment. They were under great pressure to recant their new-found faith and return to Islam, but both women stood firm and refused to deny their faith.

The women were unwell and lost a lot of weight during their imprisonment. Marzieh suffers from back pain, has an infected tooth and intense headaches and needs medical attention. Evin prison has received criticism for its human rights violations and executions in recent years.

Maryam and Marzieh were reportedly each allowed a daily one-minute phone call and a weekly visit from family.

Sources

Open Doors International

Compass Direct News

Middle East Concern

ELAM ministries

Freedom of religion in Iran

Article 23 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran states: "The investigation of individuals' beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief."

Although freedom of religion or belief is thus enshrined in the Iranian Constitution and Christians are recognised as a religious minority, apostasy (leaving Islam) is strictly prohibited. In Iran, leaving Islam could at worse mean the death penalty for men and lifetime imprisonment for women although the final verdict is left to the discretion of the judge.

Open Doors is not aware of anyone sentenced to death for apostasy in the last ten years but many people from a Muslim background who choose to follow Jesus are harassed by state officials, interrogated by the police and endure short term imprisonments. Torture is widespread in the Iranian prison system.

According to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party, "all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person" (Article 10). Further, Article 14 states that, "everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, without undue delay."