Eighty lashes for drinking Communion wine—that's the penalty that awaits each of the three Christian converts in Iran after they were charged earlier this month with that offence.
The three—Yasser Mossayebzadeh, Saheb Fadaie and Mohammad Reza Omidi—were also charged with "acting against national security" together with Youcef Nadarkhani, a pastor who was once sentenced to death for apostasy, according to World Watch Monitor (WWM).
They are due to appeal their case when then appear in court again in the northern city of Rasht on Saturday, Oct.15. The maximum sentence for the "acting against national security" charge is six years in prison.
Iran has not recognised the Christian conversion of the three accused Muslims, which explains why they are being charged with illegal consumption of alcohol, the drinking of which is permitted to non-Muslims. Leaving Islam is forbidden in Iran.
According to Iranian law, a Muslim charged and convicted of drinking alcohol for a third time could face the death penalty—a fate that could befall Omidi, who has been convicted of drinking alcohol twice.
Iranian authorities have convicted and sentenced more than 200 Christians since 2015. Many are in jail, while others have been released conditionally, pending sentencing or an appeal.
At least 43 Christians were arrested in August alone, according to Middle East Concern's Rob Duncan.
"The Iranian regime is conducting a very active campaign against house churches at the moment and leaders of house churches are harassed and put under pressure," Duncan said.
According to World Watch Monitor, Mossayebzadeh, Fadaie and Omidi were arrested in May after participating in Communion.
Iran is ranked by Open Doors USA as the ninth worst Christian persecuting country in the world. Iranian authorities are known for their hostility towards Christians, prompting thousands of believers to worship secretly in house churches across the country.
Ironically, the number of believers in Iran grew by an impressive 19.6 percent in 2015, despite the regime's campaign of persecution. Sources estimate that there are between 450,000 and 1 million Christians living in Iran today.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is actually the place in the world where the Church is growing the fastest, something that would be pretty surprising to most Christians," said Todd Nettleton from The Voice of the Martyrs, as quoted by Mission Network News.
"So it is a country that has worked very hard to eliminate Christianity, and particularly to eliminate Muslim conversion to Christianity. But it's the place in the world where the Church is growing the fastest."
