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IRAN - Christian convert waiting for his apostasy trial asks for prayers
Asia News ^ | mAY 18, 2005

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”.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: christian; christianpersecution; convert; deathcult; iranianchristians; islam; pourmand; prayer
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Hamid Pourmand with his wife and children.
1 posted on 05/18/2005 10:15:13 AM PDT by NYer
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To: american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; ...
Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 05/18/2005 10:15:59 AM PDT by NYer ("Love without truth is blind; Truth without love is empty." - Pope Benedict XVI)
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To: NYer
He could get the death penalty and be hanged.

This isn't religion. This is insanity. ALLAH AKBAR!

3 posted on 05/18/2005 10:20:35 AM PDT by layman (Card Carrying Infidel)
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To: Salem

Ping!


4 posted on 05/18/2005 10:20:44 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("You would have to double your IQ to be stupid. " --zip)
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To: NYer

Oh those sensitive and tolerant Muslims.

My prayers are with him.


5 posted on 05/18/2005 10:21:40 AM PDT by Barney Gumble (All It Takes For Evil to Succeed is for Good Men to Do Nothing.)
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To: NYer

"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


6 posted on 05/18/2005 10:21:52 AM PDT by grand old partier
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To: NYer
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”.

I'm sure the Euroweenies' hissy fit really impressed the mullahs. < /sarcasm>
7 posted on 05/18/2005 10:22:58 AM PDT by Captain Rhino ("If you will just abandon logic, these things will make a lot more sense to you!")
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To: NYer

Prayers on the way....thanks for posting this.

I thank God I was born in America every day.


8 posted on 05/18/2005 10:26:46 AM PDT by yellowdoghunter (Liberals should be seen and not heard.)
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To: All

To the streets! We must riot and protest!


9 posted on 05/18/2005 10:31:13 AM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (BEWARE YOUR FREEPER IDs AND POSTINGS CAN BE FOUND ON GOOGLE SEARCH. HILLARY IS WATCHING YOU!)
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To: jan in Colorado; Dark Skies; Fred Nerks; ariamne; Former Dodger; TexasCowboy; swordfish71; ...

Prayers for Christian family persecuted by RoP Ping.


10 posted on 05/18/2005 10:36:29 AM PDT by USF (I see your Jihad and raise you a Crusade ™ © ®)
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To: NYer

Thanks for the post. Prayers for my brother, his family and their church.


11 posted on 05/18/2005 10:38:28 AM PDT by Obadiah
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To: NYer

Prayers sent.


12 posted on 05/18/2005 10:39:29 AM PDT by denydenydeny
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To: NYer

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.


13 posted on 05/18/2005 10:39:42 AM PDT by Blzbba (Let them hate us as long as they fear us - Caligula)
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To: Blzbba

This is in Iran, not Iraq.


14 posted on 05/18/2005 10:41:47 AM PDT by keats5
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To: keats5

"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...


15 posted on 05/18/2005 10:43:26 AM PDT by Blzbba (Let them hate us as long as they fear us - Caligula)
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To: All

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


16 posted on 05/18/2005 10:45:00 AM PDT by calex59
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To: NYer

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.


17 posted on 05/18/2005 10:45:54 AM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
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To: NYer

Once again, the "religion" of peace shows that it is nothing more than a terrorist organization.

No Peace, know Islam.

No Islam, Know Peace.


18 posted on 05/18/2005 10:49:02 AM PDT by ArmedNReady (Islam, The Cancer On Humanity.)
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To: Blzbba

"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.


19 posted on 05/18/2005 11:01:54 AM PDT by conservativewasp (Support John Kerry......... Ho Chi Minh would. Damn! Now I need a new tagline.)
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To: USF; Bennett46; appalachian_dweller; bygrace85; Marysecretary; CHARLITE; Cornpone; BayouCoyote; ...
Thanks for the ping USF! Prayers for this Christian convert and his family regarding the threat to his life!

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!

20 posted on 05/18/2005 11:44:11 AM PDT by jan in Colorado ("For such a time as this...")
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