Conversion Charges
Hamid Pourmand is scheduled to go on trial in Iran for converting to Christianity from Islam and seeking to convert others to Christianity. He faces the death penalty if convicted. Pourmand, a member of the Assembly of God church and a former colonel in the Iranian army, has already been convicted by a military court of lying to his superiors about his conversion. Christians are not allowed to serve as officers in the army. Pourmand was sentenced to three years in jail at that trial. He also lost his pension, and his wife and children were evicted from their home.