International pressure sought against mandatory death penalty for 'apostates.'
International pressure is crucial if the apostasy bill is to be countered, agreed a Christian source. He recalled how in 2005 Christian convert Hamid Pourmand was acquitted of apostasy as a direct result of international pressure.
"I don't know who you are, but apparently the rest of the world does," the presiding judge had told Pourmand, according to media sources. "You must be an important person, because many people from government have called me, saying to cancel your case."
The news of parliament approving the bill comes on the heels of two Christians being officially charged with apostasy this summer. Mahmood Matin Azad, 52, and Arash Basirat, 44, have been in prison since May 15 and now await their court date.
Although their future and that of other non-Muslims looks grim, some believe this bill is the act of a government desperately trying to hang onto power.
"I have to say the Iranian regime is tightening severely its control over as many aspects of the lives of Iranian people as they possibly can," said Grieboski. "And that, I think, is the sign of a weakening regime."
to read more ... http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&lang=en&length=long&idelement=5599<=en&backpage=archives&critere=apostasy&countryname=&rowcur=0An
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