Prayer Alert: Maryam and Marzieh on Trial in Iran

In a world that is saturated with SIN and SINFUL tendencies it has always impressed me that living a life dedicated to Jesus is one of the biggest challenges that one could face. Following Christ faithfully is all a matter of choice and I have heard many times my friends and colleagues in the world telling me – “Well it would be foolishness to follow the kind of life Jesus wants us to live when we are young. Perhaps Church and matters related to holiness should be things which one should consider when one reaches his 40’s or 50’s”. Many have shrugged off the message of Love calling it way too idealistic and not realistic. But even as my scriptural super hero powers meet these kinds of direct blows, two young girls who face trial in Iran is skyrocketing my faith to unprecedented heights.

Maryam Rustampoor (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh (30) were first arrested and imprisoned on March 5,2009 on charges of “taking part in illegal gatherings” and “acting against state security.” Maryam and Marzieh’s only crime is that they have converted to Christianity. In a court trial yesterday, Sunday, August 9, they were told to recant their faith. Even though the mandatory death sentence for apostasy did not pass the Iranian Parliament, there is still a very real danger they will be convicted of apostasy and given the death sentence.

However, Islamic law forbids the execution of virgins, which both these young women are. To get around that, unmarried female convicts are forcefully “wed” the night before their execution, gang raped all night, and then executed the following morning. Please pray earnestly these young women will be delivered from such a fate.

The following are excerpts from the trial:

Mr. Haddad, asked the two women if they were Christians. “We love Jesus,” they replied. He repeated his question and they said, “Yes, we are Christians.”
Mr. Haddad then said, “You were Muslims and now you have become Christians.”
“We were born in Muslim families, but we were not Muslims,” was their reply.

Mr. Haddad’s questioning continued and he asked them if they regretted becoming Christians, to which they replied, “We have no regrets.”


Then he stated emphatically, “You should renounce your faith verbally and in written form.” They stood firm and replied, “We will not deny our faith.”

During one tense moment in the questioning, Maryam and Marzieh made reference to their belief that God had convicted them through the Holy Spirit. Mr. Haddad told them, “It is impossible for God to speak with humans.”
Marzieh asked him in return, “Are you questioning whether God is Almighty?”
Mr. Haddad then replied, “You are not worthy for God to speak to you.”
Marzieh said, “It is God, and not you, who determines if I am worthy.”

Mr. Haddad told the women to return to prison and think about the options they were given and come back to him when they are ready (to comply). Maryam and Marzieh said, “We have already done our thinking.”

Maryam and Marzieh have already undergone severe persecution and suffer terribly due to the lack of medical care. Despite the concentrated effort of officials to pressure them into recanting their faith, Maryam and Marzieh love Jesus and they are determined to stand firm to the very end no matter whatever happens. They have demonstrated their love for Jesus and would offer their lives for Him if they were called to do so. After the August 9 court session they said, “If we come out of prison we want to do so with honor.”

Please intercede for Maryam and Marzieh. They are young as you are – they are your loving sisters in Christ.

I am also reminded of 2 Maccabees Chapter 7 which tells us about the love of a mother and her seven sons towards God and how they stood their ground against the toughest of persecutions.

More more in-depth details please visit http://intercessors.wordpress.com/