UN human rights experts call on Iran to ensure fair trial for three Christians

Four U.N. human rights experts have issued a joint statement calling on the Iranian government to ensure a "fair and transparent final hearing" for three Christians who are appealing their conviction for "conducting evangelism" and "illegal house church activities."

Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, Amin Afshar Naderi, and Hadi Asgari were sentenced last year to between 10 and 15 years in prison and were supposed to appear before Iran's Revolutionary Court on Feb. 4, but the hearing was reportedly postponed and a new date is yet to be announced.

The U.N. experts have expressed concern over their sentencing and have said that their convictions were "completely contrary" to Iran's obligations under international law, Radio Free Europe reported.

"We are additionally concerned about the lack of health care made available to them while in detention and, in particular, about the current health condition of Mr. Asgari, who remains in prison," the independent experts said in a statement issued on Feb. 2.

"Members of the Christian minority in Iran, particularly those who have converted to the faith, are facing severe discrimination and religious persecution," they added.

The U.N. special rapporteurs on the human rights situation in Iran, freedom of religion, minority issues and the right to health have called on the government to "immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been arrested and detained for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief."

Some observers have noted that the Revolutionary Court could either end the case, uphold their sentences or refer their trial to Iran's Supreme Court.

Iranian Christians have reportedly complained about the Revolutionary Court system, noting that it operates without juries, without defense lawyers and often without evidence except confessions acquired through torture.

Tamraz's wife, Shamiram Isavi, is also awaiting an appeal hearing as she is challenging a five-year sentence that was handed down in early January for the charge of endangering national security.

"As far as we know, and based on Mrs. Isavi's own statements, no evidence has been presented in the case to show that she was engaged in spying or disturbing national security. She has denied all the charges," said Kiarash Alipour, a spokesman for Article 18, a U.K.-based organization focusing on Christians in Iran.

Officials have accused Isavi of "acting against national security" for organizing house churches, which is banned in Iran, as well as attending Christian seminaries abroad.

Christianity continues to grow in Iran despite the government's efforts to suppress the faith. Elam Ministries, a mission group founded by Iranian church leaders, noted that there were less than 500 Christians from a Muslim background in the country in 1979. Today, it has been estimated that there are at least 360,000 Christians in the Islamic Republic.