Ayoob Poor-Rezazadeh released
November 14, 2023
Ayoob Poor-Rezazadeh was released late October, according to Article 18. along with fellow Church of Iran prisoner Ahmad Sarparast, to serve the remainder of his sentence
CHARGED WITH:
Engaging in "propaganda against the state"
In September 2021, Ayoob Poor-Rezazadeh, a member of the Church of Iran, was arrested along with two others during raids on a house-church and another private home in Rasht. He was detained and kept in solitary confinement at an unknown location before being transferred to Lakan Prison.
In October 2021, Rezazadeh was released on bail.
On 25 January, 2022, Ayoob was charged under Article 500 of the penal code. At a hearing on 17 February, 2022, he denied the charges saying “he was just a Christian worshipping according to the Bible”, and that he “did not engage in any propaganda against the regime, or any action against national security”. On 9 April, 2022, Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court sentenced Ayoob to five years in prison for engaging in “propaganda against the state” (Article 500 IPC). as well as a fine of 18 million tomans (around $750).
Ayoob appealed his sentence but his appeal was rejected. Other charges were brought against him but these were dropped, and he is now serving out his five-year prison sentence.
Ayoob Poor-Rezazadeh was released late October, according to Article 18. along with fellow Church of Iran prisoner Ahmad Sarparast, to serve the remainder of his sentence
Subscribe for updates on prisoners