Mehdi Akbari, known as Yasser, has been released from an Iranian prison after nearly five years of incarceration for converting to Christianity. Yasser was originally sentenced to ten years but saw his sentence reduced following a successful appeal in Tehran. His release comes just days after another Christian, Pastor Anooshavan Avedian, was similarly acquitted by the same court, signaling a potential shift in the treatment of Christian converts within the country.
Throughout his time in prison, Yasser tirelessly sought justice, applying for a retrial with the Supreme Court on five separate occasions. His persistence paid off in April 2024 when his final application was accepted. The court ruled that his sentence length should be reconsidered, ultimately leading to his release. Yasser was met outside the prison by his family and close friend, Mehdi Rokhparvar, who had been imprisoned alongside him but was freed last year. Their reunion is a powerful symbol of resilience in the face of religious persecution.
Human rights organization Article 18 welcomed the release but emphasized that many Christians in Iran remain unjustly imprisoned. Mansour Borji, the organization’s director, called on the Iranian government to free at least 20 other Christians still serving time for their beliefs. Borji highlighted Iran’s failure to uphold its commitments to religious freedom, urging the regime to fulfill its obligations under international law, specifically Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to freely choose and practice one’s faith.
Source: https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/second-christian-convert-freed-from-jail-in-iran
