Update: Iran's parliament votes in favour of punishing apostasy with death

 


Mahmood Matin-Azad
Photo from Compass Direct

On September 9, Iran's parliament voted in favour of a draft law that would mandate the death penalty for those convicted of apostasy, a charge frequently brought against Christians in the country. If this law passes all stages of Iran's legislative process, Mahmood Matin-Azad and Arash Basirat, who were recently charged with apostasy (click here for more information), could be sentenced to death. Under current Iranian law, apostasy is a capital offence but the judge is free to decide the penalty.