England (MNN) — On Saturday, September 12, Iranian
Christian women held a prayer vigil outside the Iranian embassy in London for
the release of two female converts who have been imprisoned for six months.
Dressed in white, they stressed the plight of the two
Christian women whose health has begun to deteriorate "due to the overcrowded
conditions and limited facilities," stated on the International Christian Concern Web site.
The vigil was organized by Iranian Christian women and
supported by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), according to ICC. CSW
identifies itself as a human rights organization specialized in defending the
persecuted Christians around the world.
Since March 5, Maryam Rustampoor, 27, and Marzieh
Amirizadeh, 30, have been held in Evin prison in Teheran. There they have been
deprived of proper medical care and often blindfolded and interrogated for
hours. After being held for five months, they were tried on August 9 and told
to recant their faith, ICC reports. When they refused, they were sent back to
prison and faced charges of apostasy, which under Islamic "Sharia" law means
death.
CSW petitioned the Iranian government to release the
innocent women. According to ICC, Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of CSW, said, "We
wholeheartedly stand in solidarity with Maryam and Marzieh, who are being held
solely on the basis of exercising their most basic right: freedom of thought,
conscience and belief."
To sign a petition for the release of these two women or for information about ICC and their work, visit their Web site
