The Iranian government is among the most oppressive regimes in the world. It is illegal to leave Islam, and Christians face the constant threat of imprisonment and being falsely charged with “acting against national security” for owning Bibles or even talking about Christ.
An Iranian pastor who has been in and out of prison since his first arrest in 2006 was released from his latest long incarceration on account of his religious beliefs and practices on Saturday.
Abdolreza Ali-Haghnejad, who is known as Matthias and will celebrate his 51st birthday later this week, had been serving a six-year sentence for “propagating Christianity” since January 2022, when his 2014 acquittal was overturned just two weeks after he had been released from a separate five-year sentence on similar charges.
Matthias had been serving his latest sentence 1,600 km from his wife and daughter in Anzali, north Iran, having been transferred to Minab Prison in the far south in 2023.
Matthias’ case shows how the pressure on Iranian Christians can continue for years after their first arrest and even, in his case, after two acquittals.
Even as Matthias celebrates his latest release, another court case hangs over him – as well as his wife and daughter, and nine other church members – following their arrest at a Christmas celebration in December 2022, when Matthias was on a short furlough from prison.
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