Christian Women Told To Recant Faith By Iran Court: They Refuse

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These ladies need our prayers…and be inspired by their courage…

Arrested by the Iranian authorities on 5th March, 2009, two Christian women from Tehran’s house churches have been held in the city’s Evin prison, without charge and sometimes in solitary confinement. This Sunday (August 9th) they were brought to court where it was made clear their only ‘crime’ is that they were born into Muslim families, but have chosen to become Christians. During the trial the women, Maryam Rustampoor (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh (30) were told to recant their faith in Christ. They refused.

It was the deputy prosecutor, Mr Haddad, who questioned Maryam and Marzieh about their faith. He 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.”

At the end of the session, Mr. Haddad told them that a judge will give them his verdict, though it is not clear who will be the judge in their case now. He also allowed Maryam and Marzieh to have a lawyer represent them in the case for the first time since their arrest.

Both women are back in Evin prison. During their five-month ordeal, both have been unwell and have lost much weight. Marzieh is in pain due to an on-going problem with her spine, as well as an infected tooth and intense headaches. She desperately needs medical attention. Two months ago the prison officials told her the prison had proper medical equipment and that they will attend to her, but so far no proper treatment has been given.

Maryam and Marzieh’s case which has been taken up by Amnesty International
(see amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/030/2009/en) is a clear and harsh violation of human rights and religious liberty by Iran’s authorities.
 
the Blood of Christains is seed, may this suffering raise a mighty forest of faith. amen.
 
May the LORD God Almighty eradicate this evil called Islam in our world, in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Islam is a Judeo-Christian heresy. A corruption of the Bible and of Jewish history. :mad:
 
Persecution of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ continues…may we pray for them.
 
May the Holy Spirit rest with all those who are persecuted for their faith in God.
 
In the end, they will have their rewards for sure!

“Blessed are you when people insult you, **persecute **you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because **great **is your **reward **in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:11-12
 
Could some one chime in on whether or not these ladies are Catholics (authentic Christians)? If not is there anyway to have them baptized into the church?
 
Califman831 said:
Could some one chime in on whether or not these ladies are Catholics (authentic Christians)? If not is there anyway to have them baptized into the church?
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What does it matter whether they are Catholics or not? Even if they are Mormons or JW’s their persecution in the Name of Jesus is a baptism of blood in my view. Our God is an Awesome God and He reads our hearts and minds and I do not believe He is partial to Catholics. We Catholics are simply the visible part of His Body.

Im no scholar and cannot answer your question but I believe God is with all people who is persecuted for whatever faith they possess. He loves ALL peoples and desires that all will turn to Him.

He is risen!
 
He is partial to catholics because he created only one church and outside of it there is no salvation. JW and mormons do not hold true to the teachings of his church which makes them heretics.
 
Califman831 said:
Could some one chime in on whether or not these ladies are Catholics (authentic Christians)? If not is there anyway to have them baptized into the church?
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I think they are Evangelicals. Anyway, there is no need to have them rebaptized if they have already been baptized in their Christian church, provided that the Trinitarian formula was used (baptized in the name of the Father,Son and Holy Spirit). Moreover, you are in no position to decide whether or not they are authentic Christians. The Catholic Church does not have a monopoly of grace.
 
Califman831 said:
He is partial to catholics because he created only one church and outside of it there is no salvation. JW and mormons do not hold true to the teachings of his church which makes them heretics.
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Oh come on! Will you please stop that polemic! You are not doing any good to encourage other Christians. It is Jesus Christ who saves, not the Church (Rom.10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:16).
 
Bengoshi said:
Oh come on! Will you please stop that polemic! You are not doing any good to encourage other Christians. It is Jesus Christ who saves, not the Church (Rom.10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:16).
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Well, no, the Church is the body of Christ. IAC. from what I read, these women deserve our prayers. And the Church is not jealous of those who brought these women to faith.
 
Califman831 said:
He is partial to catholics because he created only one church and outside of it there is no salvation. JW and mormons do not hold true to the teachings of his church which makes them heretics.
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Scripture does not say that God is partial to Catholics. It does, however, say that God is partial to sinners.
 
this is neither the time nor the place to debate this

this is about the sacrifice they are making for Him, and we should admire it and pray for the end of their struggles
 
I’m sad that we are arguing over who qualifies as Christians and who doesn’t. I am a Catholic and this I know … that our loving and just God has a place in Heaven even for those who are not even Christians by virtue of their righteousness. Acting on God’s will, which I think these two ladies are doing, and re-affirming their faith during their persecution is pleasing to Him.

Substance over form, guys.
 
No need to argue because the popes have weighed in on the matter.
Code: 
* “There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)

* “We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)

* “The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.” (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)
 
I thjnk Vatican II has changed its position …

“The Mystery of the church.” Sections 14 to 16 of the Constitution describe the potential for salvation of:

Followers of the Catholic Church,
Members of other Christian denominations, and
Believers of non-Christian religions.

“The Catholic Church professes that it is the one, holy catholic and apostolic Church of Christ; this it does not and could not deny. But in its Constitution the Church now solemnly acknowledges that the Holy Ghost is truly active in the churches and communities separated from itself. To these other Christian Churches the Catholic Church is bound in many ways: through reverence for God’s word in the Scriptures; through the fact of baptism; through other sacraments which they recognize.”

The non-Christian may not be blamed for his ignorance of Christ and his Church; salvation is open to him also, if he seeks God sincerely and if he follows the commands of his conscience, for through this means the Holy Ghost acts upon all men; this divine action is not confined within the limited boundaries of the visible Church."
 
Vatican II is self contradictory, notice it starts off by stating truth, that there is only one church of our lord Christ, then VII goes on to talk of other churches. There is only one church or there is not. The sacraments in the fake churches lack the authority of the pope and the presence of a Valid Priest to administer them. Salvation by desire only applies to dire situations when a priest is not available, not to those who choose to go to a heretical place of worship across town. Given the hostile nature of Muslim countries against Christians, these ladies maybe be saved by desire, but it is still preferable that the catholic church baptizes them and instructs them in the faith.

The Council of Trent
history.hanover.edu/texts/trent.htm
 
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