Iranian Christian Faces Death Penalty for Conversion

(Compass) – An Iranian convert to Christianity has been on trial for his life for the past 10 days before an Islamic sharia court in Tehran for deserting Islam and proselytizing Muslims. Hamid Pourmand, an Assemblies of God lay pastor who became a Christian 25 years ago, faces execution by hanging under Iranian law. Government officials have reportedly stated that citizens of Iran who changed their religion before the 1979 Islamic revolution would not be subject to prosecution. Nonetheless, “His wife and family are very worried,” a source close to the family told Compass today, “because nobody knows what the court decision will be. He is still refusing to deny Christ.” Pourmand and his wife Arlet, who is from Assyrian Christian background, have two teenage sons, Immanuel and David.