Pope Leo XIV has known as on the world to face with persecuted Christians after 5 Iranian converts have been jailed for greater than eight years.
In June 2024, Hesameddin Mohammad Junaidi, Abolfazl Ahmadzadeh Khajani, Morteza Faghanpour Sasi, and two different unnamed males have been arrested in Iran over prices related to their Christian religion.
Based on Center Japanese shops, the 5 males have been charged with offences referring to collaborating in Christian coaching programs, attending house-church conferences and "propaganda actions opposite to the Islamic legislation".
One of many males was additionally handed a further cost of "insulting the management" of Iran.
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Regardless of being initially launched on bail, an Iranian court docket upheld jail sentences in opposition to the Christian converts final month, who now face nearly a decade behind bars.
The 5 males launched appeals in opposition to their prolonged jail sentences, however the appeals have been subsequently rejected.
Within the Islamic theocratic state, it’s prohibited for Muslims to transform to Christianity and people discovered responsible of doing so are topic to prolonged jail sentences and lashings.
Iranian authorities have additionally banned the Bible within the nation’s nationwide language of Farsi.
Simply weeks after the lads have been jailed, Pope Leo XIV known as for a renewed effort to guard freedom of faith and for the world to face with persecuted Christians.
Addressing a personal viewers of representatives from the Assist to the Church in Want (ACN) Worldwide group, the Pope stated: “Your go to is well timed, for our world continues to witness rising hostility and violence in opposition to those that maintain totally different convictions, together with many Christians.
“In distinction, your mission proclaims that, as one household in Christ, we don’t abandon our persecuted brothers and sisters.
"Relatively, we keep in mind them, we stand with them, and we labour to safe their God-given freedoms.
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The pontiff famous that freedom of faith "will not be optionally available, however important" and “a cornerstone of any simply society, for it safeguards the ethical house through which conscience could also be fashioned and exercised.”
Pope Leo XIV added: “Non secular freedom, subsequently, will not be merely a authorized proper or a privilege granted to us by governments, it’s a foundational situation that makes genuine reconciliation doable.”
Weeks earlier than the 5 males have been sentenced, Iranian Christian Mehram Shamloui, 37, was sentenced to over 10 years in jail on prices referring to his religion.
Secular Dutch analysis group Gamaan estimates that the variety of Christians in Iran has reached its highest stage ever, with round a million believed to be dwelling within the predominantly Muslim nation.
A US State Division report on spiritual freedom in Iran underline that "there’s frequent discrimination and violence in opposition to Iran’s Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians".
The evaluation learn: "Throughout his tenure, it has been reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has known as for the tip to Christianity’s growth throughout the nation.
"This has compelled many Christian church buildings into hiding and compelled varied components of their spiritual apply underground.
"Christians additionally endure from official authorities bans on conversion from Islam (apostasy), which can lead to a dying sentence."
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