Iranian Pastor Pourmand Acquitted of Apostasy & Proselytising - Remains in Jail

Pastor Hamid Pourmand of the Assemblies of God Church was acquitted of the charges of apostasy and proselytising on 28th May 2005 by an Islamic court in his hometown Bandar-i Bushehr.

Hamid Pourmand, who converted to Christianity in 1980, was arrested during a church meeting last year on 9th September together with another 85 participants. Others were released within three days, however Pourmand was charged of deceiving his superiors about his faith, since according to Iranian law, non-Muslims cannot hold a position of authority above that of a Muslim. So Pourmand should not have been allowed to be an army officer.

Other charges he was accused of were apostasy and proselytising. These charges, if he were not acquitted, would have led to a death sentence.

A spokesperson of Middle East Concern (MEC) who has been following the case said: "On Saturday May 28th an Islamic judge in Bandar-I Bushehr, on Iran's Gulf coast, acquitted pastor Pourmand of charges of apostasy and proselytising Muslims."

However, he still stays in prison: "He remains imprisoned for allegedly deceiving the Iranian army about his being a Christian," the spokesperson continued.

He was found guilty of this charge on 16th February 2005 despite the fact the documents proving his superiors had known about his Christian faith were presented during the process. As the result, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

Later, in early April, he was accused of apostasy and proselytising and appeared before an Islamic court several times from 13th April for two weeks. During the hearings he was forced to convert to Islam again.

On 16th May he was transformed to his hometown to stand before an Islamic court there. The case has attracted a lot of international attention, as the statement of the local judge reveals: "I don't know who you are, but the rest of the world does."