The Iranian parliament is reviewing a bill for the Islamic Penal Law (Penal Code) that aims at legislating the death penalty for apostasy.

According to the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, the draft law defines an apostate as “any Muslim who clearly announces that he/she has left Islam and declares blasphemy.”

Article 225 to 227 of the law defines two kinds of apostates, namely, innate (Fetri) and parental (Melli) apostates. Parental apostates are individuals whose parents had been Muslims and the individual later decided to leave Islam, while innate apostates had one parent who was Muslim, “but after the age of maturity, without pretending to be Muslim, chooses blasphemy.”

The draft law states, “Punishment for an Innate Apostate is death. Punishment for a Parental Apostate is death, but after the final sentencing for three days he/she would be guided to the right path and encouraged to recant his/her belief and if he/she refused the death penalty would be carried out.”

The proposed law indicates that punishment for women will be life imprisonment and “hardship” will be exercised on female apostates who will be immediately released when they recant.

This law reinforces stringent laws Christian converts from Islam face in Iran. Pray for Iranian believers who live in danger because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Ask God to give them courage and increased faith as they remain faithful in their walk with the Lord.