1015 15th Street, N.W., 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
In 2009, two women were arrested in Iran on charges of apostasy, anti-government activity, and blasphemy, for which they were sentenced to execution by hanging. Imprisoned in the notoriously brutal Evin prison, they were repeatedly threatened with death and torture. Nine months later, following an international outcry, Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh were finally released and cleared of all charges. After their release, they immigrated to the United States and now live in the state of Georgia. On April 9, 2013, the Center for Religious Freedom hosted a discussion with these two women, the authors of Captive in Iran.
Iran's Islamic laws forbid sharing Christian beliefs, and Maryam and Marziyeh knew they were putting their lives on the line by becoming Christian missionaries. Born into Muslim families, they had both converted to Christianity and went to Turkey to study Christian theology, where they met. After returning to Iran, they joined forces and began covertly handing out Farsi copies of the New Testament to 20,000 of their countrymen. From their apartment, they led two secret house churches, one for young people and one for prostitutes to worship. They continued evangelizing as detainees inside Evin prison.
Captive in Iran is a memoir of their experience in Iran's underground Christian movement.
The Hudson Institute Political Studies Policy Certificate Program gathers talented early career professionals for advanced study of American foreign and domestic policy and national security, led by policy experts and experienced government officials.
Murray will join Hudson Senior Fellow Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs for a discussion on his conversations in the Middle East, the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, and the historical and moral dimensions of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorists who seek to destroy it.
Join Hudson for a discussion on European Union and United Kingdom competition and regulatory authorities’ increasing focus on digital platforms.
