TEHRAN, Iran ”” Four Iranian Christians were sentenced last week to 80 lashes each for drinking communion wine during a communion service at a house church.
The four men were charged in court with drinking alcohol and possessing a receiver and satellite antenna in Rasht, a city 200 miles northwest of Tehran, on Oct. 6. The verdict was delivered to the men Oct. 20, and they have been given 10 days to appeal the sentence, the group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports.
Iran is an Islamic republic, and Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol. Non-Muslims account for less than 1% of Iran's population.Ӭ
The charged men are members of the Church of Iran, a Protestant ecclesial community. Two of the men were arrested Dec. 31, 2012, during the government’s crackdown on house churches.