Bishop Nazir-Ali urges Home Office not to deport Iranian Christian from UK

UK: November 19, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali welcomes very much the news that Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad have been released from Evin prison in Teheran, where they have been detained on charges of propagating the Christian faith.

Although they have been released without bail, they are still due to stand trial, and other Christians have been arrested in Iran because of their faith.

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali says: ‘I am thankful that they have been set free without conditions of bail and pray that justice will be done for them and for others who are being held in Iran in due course.

‘At the same time it seems ironic that while Maryam and Marzieh have been released by the Iranian authorities, the Home Office in this country is proposing to deport an Iranian Christian.

‘Amir – not his real name – attends an Orthodox church in the north of England and is on the church committee. It seems clear that if he is deported he will face interrogation, arrest and possible imprisonment in Iran simply because he is a Christian.

‘I appeal to the Home Office to allow Amir to remain free and to continue living in safety in this country.

‘Iranian Christians, whether in Iran or the UK, strive to be good and loyal citizens, and we continue to pray that their fundamental liberties will be upheld.’