VP Pence Demands Iran Release Christian Woman, Vows 'America Will Stand Up for People of Faith'

Steve Warren
08-02-2019

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Vice President Mike Pence is defending the religious freedom of a Christian woman in Iran.

This week an Islamic revolutionary court judge sentenced 65-year-old Mahrokh Kanbara to prison for "acting against national security" and engaging in "propaganda against the system."

International Christian Concern (ICC) reports Kanbara was arrested last December. Local police raided her home, incarcerated her, and interrogated her for ten days 

Friday morning, Pence took to social media to voice his concern. He tweeted "Iran must free Mahrockh Kanbari today. Whether Sunni, Sufi, Bahai'i, Jewish, or Christian, America will stand up for people of faith in Iran like Marokh and Pastor Bet Tamrz whose persecutions are an affront to religious freedom."

In a second tweet, the vice president wrote, "I am appalled to hear reports that Iran's despotic rulers have punished yet another Christian woman for exercising her freedom to worship."

Other Iranian Christians are also facing similarly vague charges. On July 24, a hearing was put on hold after five of the accused Christians insisted on selecting their own defense lawyer. Rather than listening to their request, Judge Moghiseh transferred two of them to Evin Prison and arrested the other three, setting bail at around $180,000, according to the ICC. 

These latest cases signal a continued downturn trend of religious freedom for Iranian Christians. The country's Islamic regime continues to view Christianity as a national security threat.

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About The Author

Steve Warren is a senior multimedia producer for CBN News. Warren has worked in the news departments of television stations and cable networks across the country. In addition, he also worked as a producer-director in television production and on-air promotion. A Civil War historian, he authored the book The Second Battle of Cabin Creek: Brilliant Victory. It was the companion book to the television documentary titled Last Raid at Cabin Creek currently streaming on Amazon Prime. He holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a B.A. in Communication from the University of
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