Hamid Pourmand with his wife and children.
Posted on 05/18/2005 10:15:12 AM PDT by NYer
Tehran (AsiaNews/Compass) – Hamid Pourmand, a Protestant clergyman who was born a Muslim, was moved from Tehran’s Evin Prison in an armoured car two days ago, May 16, to his home town of Bandar-i Bushehr (southern Iran), where an Islamic court will hear charges of proselytising and apostasy against him. He could get the death penalty and be hanged.
Some of Pourmand’s relatives were allowed to briefly see him before his departure, but the prisoner was not permitted to speak with them. Witnesses say however that, gazing at them silently, he mouthed the words, “Please, pray for me.”
Reverend Pourmand, who converted to Christianity in 1980, is a member of the Assemblies of God. At the time of his conversion he was a colonel in the Iranian army.
On February 16, he was found guilty of keeping his conversion a secret from his superiors.
Under Iran’s Islamic law, non Muslims are not allowed to be in the army as officers.
Following the sentence he was thrown out of the army, lost his salary and pension and his family lost their home.
Now he is charged with proselytising and apostasy. The judges accuse him of being part of “an underground church for many years, a church through which many people have betrayed Islam and joined Christianity”.
In November 2004, the European Union formally complained against the Iranian authorities for Pourmand’s treatment calling his arrest and trial a “violation of religious freedom”.
This isn't religion. This is insanity. ALLAH AKBAR!
Ping!
Oh those sensitive and tolerant Muslims.
My prayers are with him.
"The European Union complained"...NO SUH...You dont say!...that is about all they are good for...And this is the world that we are trying to extend "freedom" too
Prayers on the way....thanks for posting this.
I thank God I was born in America every day.
To the streets! We must riot and protest!
Prayers for Christian family persecuted by RoP Ping.
Thanks for the post. Prayers for my brother, his family and their church.
Prayers sent.
What's sad is that he would've been treated better by Saddam Hussein, who actually didn't seem to have much of a problem with Christians in Iraq.
This is in Iran, not Iraq.
"This is in Iran, not Iraq."
Regardless, it's sad that a maniacal dictator had more apparent respect for Christianity than these Iranians.
Of course, Saddam was about as 'Muslim' as you & I are...
Well thank God they didn't flush the bible, we would have had to riot, just killing a christian doesn't show intolerance it just shows that they are "real" mulsims, peaceful and tolerant, tough but fair./Sarcasm off
Father, you have promised to watch over your children. We ask you protect this one in the name of Jesus. Whatever happens in this trial, we know you never make a mistake. If the worst should happen to this family, we are confident you are in charge of it all, and that YOU will stand in judgment on those who would harm them.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Once again, the "religion" of peace shows that it is nothing more than a terrorist organization.
No Peace, know Islam.
No Islam, Know Peace.
"Of course, Saddam was about as 'Muslim' as you & I are"
Saddam converted after he got his a$$ handed to him in Gulf War 1. He lost it over his misfortune and turned to a false religon for solice. Didn't seem to help much though.
The judges accuse him of being part of “an underground church for many years, a church through which many people have betrayed Islam and joined Christianity”[...]"He could get the death penalty and be hanged."
So...this "religion of peace" will kill you if you dare leave it and attempt to teach others a different point of view? But in this country they are afforded all the "rights" of a religion, and in fact demand "special" privileges? There is something seriously wrong with this picture!
Prayers for this brave man who had the courage to walk away from the cult of death...even if it costs him his life! I pray that many more will have the courage to do likewise and that we have the courage to stand up for what is right!
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