Press Release 12th January 1994
Action To Stop Execution Of Iranian Christian
MPs, Church leaders and British Human Rights Groups are appealing to the Iranian Government to save the life of an Iranian Church leader sentenced to death for apostasy.
Rev Mehdi Dibaj's execution was ordered by the Iranian Revolutionary Court following his trial on 3 December 1993. A convert from Islam, Rev Dibaj is 59 years old and has been imprisoned for ten years, two of which were spent in solitary confinement without light. He has been subjected to a number of mock executions and was repeatedly tortured.
Rev Dibaj's execution order came from Branch No7 of the Punitive Court 1 of Sari 7 (File no: 1690169 K7, Verdict No: 1766172): The court verdict stated that : "... the apostate was born a Muslim before his apostasy and as per Islamic law if he reaches maturity and voluntarily chose blasphemy (non Islamic religion or discard Islam) and so on he should be given the option to repent or be killed.
The verdict continued, "Because in adulthood and choice of Kofr (blasphemy) and non-repentance and insistence on the choice of non-Islam which the accused is the best example of and he (Rev Dibaj) insist on his belief on non-Islam with reliance on the document of the above mentioned Fatwah and documents in the primary opinion he is sentenced to execution."
The Iranian Government has stated that there is religious liberty in the country and that no one suffers in Iran for their beliefs. Only a few days before Rev Dibaj's trial, Frank Field MP received a letter from the Mohammad Safaei, Deputy Head of Mission at the Iranian Embassy in London which stated that, "Iranian Christians, like other religious minorities in Iran, enjoy the full rights and privileges to all Iranian citizens by the constitution. They are perfectly free to engage in their social, cultural, and religious activities and face no obstacles."
Revd. Mehdi Dibaj delivered his own written defence to the court. In a powerful statement, this devout church leader declared: "Life for me is an opportunity to serve Him, and death is a better opportunity to be with Christ. Therefore I am not only satisfied to be in prison for the honour of His Holy Name, but am ready to give my life for the sake of Jesus my Lord and enter His kingdom sooner, the place where the elect of God enter everlasting life, but the wicked to eternal damnation."
"1would rather have the whole world against me but know that the Almighty God is with me, be called an apostate but know that I have the approval of the God of glory.
Rev Dibaj accepted the court's verdict and decided not to write a letter protesting against the sentence. Instead he declared his will in a statement to the Court that conveys his unshakeable faith and his commitment even unto death.
Rev Dibaj's will states, 'I, Christian prisoner, Mehdi Dibaj, Son of Hassan, accept the court verdict with joy and peace. Please:
1 Expedfte the process of carrying out the sentence.
2 Submit my body to Babol Medical College for their medical use.
3 Allow the cross to remain around my neck
4 Allow Holy Communion to be administered to me before execution by two Iranian Christian clergymen.
He also asked that his belongings be donated to the church and "give my children into the hands of God who is able to keep them safe so that they grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Rev Dibaj's four children named Mary, Joseph, Jesus and Angel are aged between 13 and 18 and live with his family and are supported by the Iranian Church.
Upon hearing the news of Rev Dibaj's imminent execution, David Alton MP telephone the Iranian Embassy in London. He also tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons (No 317), seconded by Simon Hughes MP, which calls upon the British Government to: "...make immediate representations to secure the commutation of this harsh and inhuman decision."
In addition, Mr Alton mobilised Parliamentary support. He:-
* Spoke with Nirj Deva MP who contacted Downing Street.
* Telephoned John Gummer MP, Ann Widdecombe MP and Alastair Burt MP who all made separate representations to Douglas Hurd at the Foreign Office.
* Talked with Helmut Schaeffer, the German Minister of State who authorised intervention and directed the German Ambassador in Iran to make representations.
* Telephoned the Papal Nuncio in Iran, Archbishop Romeo Pancivoli, who said he would appeal on behalf of the Vatican.
George Robertson MP had already taken up Mehdi Dibaj's case under Jubilee Campaign's Parliamentary Adoption Programme. After reading a letter from Rev Dibaj to his son, in 1992, Mr Robertson said, 'Although it is most worrying that he is still kept in prison in these circumstances, he has clearly lost none of his spirit and that must be quite an inspiration."
Mr Robertson is to ask the Labour Foreign Affairs Spokesman Jack Cunningham MP to take up the case.
Jubilee Campaign, a British-based human rights group supported by over 100 MPs has organised Parliamentary action for Rev Dibaj for sometime. Lord Avebury, William Cash MP and Rev Martin Smyth MP are among several MPs who wrote expressing concern directly to the Iranian authorities. In 1993, Anthony Coombs MP urged the British Government to intervene, and, in replying, Douglas Hogg, the Foreign Office Minister stated, "We have made clear our concerns to the Iranians on many occasions, most recently during a visit to Tehran in September by a senior UK official when the plight of religious minorities and the case of Rev Dibaj were specifically raised."
