Additional Name(s): Mohammadreza Omidi, Youhan Omidi, Johann, محمدرضا امیدی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Fars

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Accepted: Reduced to Unknown Amount

Sentence: Originally 10 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July//2018

Date of Release: August/18/2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization

Mohammad Reza Omidi

Extra Bio Info:

Mohammad Reza Omidi was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert. 

On May 13, 2016, authorities arrested Omidi, a member of the Church of Iran, and several others while they were performing religious rites at a house-church. Omidi was reportedly denied a lawyer.

In June 2016, Omidi was reportedly released after posting bail.

In September 2016, Omidi was sentenced to 80 lashes for "drinking alcohol." He had reportedly drunk communion wine during a worship service.

In June/July 2017, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Omidi to ten years in prison.  United For Iran reports Omidi was charged with "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC). Church In Chains reports that this charged included allegations of “propagating house churches” and promoting Zionist Christianity."

In July 2018, Omidi was taken into state custody to begin serving his sentence.

In both June and July 2020, it was reported that Omidi's sentence had been reduced, but by exactly how much is unclear. 

On August 18, 2020, Omidi was released from prison under unclear circumstance.

On October 14, 2020, Omidi was reportedly lashed 80 times for as part of his sentence for "drinking communion wine."

Omidi is married with two children.

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