Good news from Iran – imprisoned pastor acquitted and released

In good news from Iran, Anooshavan Avedian – a pastor who has been serving a ten-year prison sentence for leading a house church in Iran – has been acquitted and released. He had spent just over a year in prison.

Last year, the UN Human Rights Committee called on Iran to ‘immediately release those imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief’, and ensure they are provided with ‘adequate compensation’. Additionally, our partners at Article18 also called on the Iranian authorities to immediately release Anooshavan, among with other Christian prisoners of conscience, as part of their latest joint submission to the UN in July.

At least 21 other Christians are currently serving sentences related to their faith, including at least ten in Evin Prison. Among them is Hakop Gochumyan, an Armenian citizen who is serving his own ten-year sentence for allegedly engaging in ‘deviant proselytising’.

Please pray

• Praise God for this good news, and pray that Anooshavan and his family will heal from their ordeal
• For the release of more Christian prisoners, and that all advocacy efforts will bring yet more breakthrough
• For continued strength, protection and encouragement for Christians in Iran affected by persecution.

Source: Article 18

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29 September 2023

Anooshavan Avedian, an Iranian-Armenian pastor, has begun his ten-year sentence in prison.  

Pastor Avedian (61) was sentenced more than a year ago, but wasn’t summoned to serve his sentence until last week when he was visited by two officers from the Ministry of Intelligence. Coincidentally, the visit took place the same day Pastor Joseph Shahbazian was released from Evin Prison.

Threats made by police to ‘forcibly transport’ him to prison

Pastor Avedian’s ordeal began over three years ago when he was arrested during a raid on his home, alongside two Christian converts, Soori and Mohammadi, who received non-custodial sentences. In addition to his decade-long prison term, Avedian also faces a further ten years of ‘deprivation of social rights’ after his eventual release. Despite all three Christians applying for a retrial with the Supreme Court, their requests were summarily rejected. 

Avedian’s lawyer revealed that his client faced the summons without any prior notice of the legal procedure, a development which raised concerns about the violation of due process and the use of security pressure. The lawyer further explained that the officers who visited Avedian threatened to forcibly handcuff and transport him to prison if he refused to comply.

Religious freedom in Iran continues to be curtailed

As Avedian begins his prison term, concerns about religious freedom and the arbitrary nature of justice continue to loom large within Iran’s legal system. Earlier this month (September), Joseph Shahbazian – who was initially sentenced to ten years in Evin Prison for his involvement in a house church – was freed. Let us pray that the Iranian authorities will relent and free Pastor Avedian too.