A new report on Hamid Pourmand from AsiaNews, with thanks to Nicolei and Kemaste:
Tehran (AsiaNews) – Hamid Pourmand is a Protestant minister of the Assemblies of God Church. He converted from Islam several years ago. Since September he has been held in prison at an undisclosed location and under Iranian law he can be put to death for “apostasy against Islam”. He was arrested on September 9 in Karaj, a town 30 km west of the capital Tehran during a police raid against the annual General Council of the Assemblies of God Church.Reverend Pourmand is 47-year-old, married with two children, and a colonel in the Iranian army based in the city of Bandar-i Bushehr (380 km south of Tehran). If brought before a court martial he could face espionage charges and sentenced to death. Although laws instituted after the Islamic revolution prohibit non-Muslims from holding officer rank, he continued to serve as an officer in the Iranian army. “Hamid did not keep his conversion secret,” a friend told Compass, “but he is an honest man and people liked and respected him.”
Pourmand was arrested along with another 86 Protestant leaders; 76 were released the evening of their arrest whilst another 9 were let go three days later. But Pourmand was the only one who is still in prison. According to eyewitnesses, Iranian police had detailed information about each one of them.
Since his arrest, Pourmand has been able to talk briefly to is wife (an Assyrian Christian) by phone and tell her that he was alright. At the time of his arrest, she and their children were in Tehran visiting relatives. Upon her return home, she found that their home had been searched and family documents and photos taken.
The September raid against the council of the Assemblies of God comes in the wake of several arrests of Christians in northern Iran in May and June.
In July 1994, Mehdi Dibaj, another minister of the Assemblies of God Church who was also a convert from Islam, was killed after spending nine years in prison for refusing to abjure his Christian faith and return to Islam.
Under Iranian law, capital punishment is reserved for apostasy, murder, armed robbery, rape and drug trafficking.
Where are the human rights organizations?
This needs stopping, where are all the idiots who create such an uproar about the human rights of dirt like the islamo-slugs in Gitmo.
This is far more deserving of their attention!!!
Mr.Spencer , is there nothing you can do, can't you send this to amnesty international or something??? For Gods sake, we can't keep allowing people to be executed just because they are brave and sensible enough to leave the most hellish death cult in the world!!!
This world is so ****ing upside down, can't any of those stupid , arse-over-tit liberals see the true monstrous face of the devil they are defending.
No Islam Know Peace
Rikki says:
"where are all the idiots who create such an uproar about the human rights of dirt like the islamo-slugs in Gitmo?"
They're (ACLU) preoccupied defending NAMBLA, with making sure there are no Christian symbols on any state signs and insuring Muslims they have the right to broadcast their call to prayer 5 times a day in Michigan.
How come these seditious bastards don't receive any bomb threats?
regarding the statement: “Hamid did not keep his conversion secret,” a friend told Compass
this is quite revealing. i have heard from credible sources that whole mosques are converting to christianity yet they keep up the appearance of their islamic rituals in order to stave off persecution
Ted,
What are these credible sources indicating such conversions and where are these to be found?
I'm sincerely interested to know.
Oops. He didn't keep his conversion secret. How foolish. The thought police are out to get anyone that strays from the party line. Now he faces the death penalty. Sounds like totalitarianism to me!
There's no compulsion in religion... a big RIGHT! (sarcasm off)
Kemaste:
"How come these seditious bastards don't receive any bomb threats?"
Because the guys who threaten and bomb are their compadres...
Where are the human rights organizations?
ALong with the UN they only act for muslims against the infidel
“Under Iranian law, capital punishment is reserved for apostasy”
To say that Islam has a inferiority complex is an understatement
Mohammad wasn’t as stupid as I first though
He understood that Islam empowers the few while oppressing the many
that many would want out of Islam, so he solved this problem like he did all others, kill, kill, kill
I just heard Al Qaeda Kerry say that “ you cant pray your way out of Iraq, you cant pray your way out of a bad economy” and to think that Al Qaeda Kerry said he was a Christian!!
He lies like the Qur’an, We must flush the John
No Islam, Know Peace
George asks:
Where are the human rights organizations?
They have been preoccupied for years condemning Israel...
Rikki and All-
ANYONE can report a case such as this to Amnesty International. Go to their website at www.amnesty.org and click on the Contact Us link at the top of the page. You will want to contact the International Secretariat (IS). The IS will review the case, vet the information and proceed from there.
I will contact Amnesty's Urgent Action Network in the USA - this case may have crossed our desks at some point - it's hard to keep track of all the cases we've had to deal with re. Iran.
George and Kemaste:
Amnesty has been lobbying on behalf of MANY victims of human rights abuses in the Islamic world. Here's a sample of some of what we've been dealing with in Iran. You may find this interesting:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/interfaith/document.do?id=371272D93FB85646802569A6006041E4
Remember, Amnesty can only work on the cases that are reported to them. If you ever see a case such as this, don't hesitate to contact the IS.
Mike ,
Thanks, done already!!!
Rikki
to nikoz: my information comes via word of mouth from theologians & missionaries that i know. i myself am seeking documented evidence, and will hopefully have some in next few weeks. i can be reached through susan_b's network