Two of them, a pastor and a deacon were released. Another pastor remains in prison for previous convictions. Underground religious activities are viewed with suspicion and accused of proselytization and subversive politics.

Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Three Christian Protestant leaders, already sentenced to six years in prison for reasons of "national security", were declared innocent following an appeal hearing. The ruling was made public yesterday.

Pastor Matthias Haghnejad, Deacon Silas Rabbani and Pastor Behnam Irani had been arrested in 2011 in Karaj, near Tehran, where they had founded some underground communities. Last October, they were sentenced to six years in prison for "action against national security" and for having "created a network to overthrow the system."

On 9 December last, the Court of Appeal of the Islamic Republic dropped the charges. Pastor Haghnejad and Deacon Rabbani were released; Pastor Irani remains in prison for previous accusations, also tied to his underground activities.

The Iranian constitution guarantees a degree of religious freedom for minorities, including Christians. But Police and the Ministry of Security demand control over all religious activities. The underground activities of Protestant  Evangelical groups - with funding from abroad, especially from the United States - are viewed with suspicion.

President Hassan Rouhani has promised to guarantee more rights to minorities, but political and religious authorities fear radical proselytism and are suspicious of plots to overthrow the government.

The three Protestant clerics who were declared innocent a few days ago, were initially accused of "spreading corruption on earth" and of being "enemies of God" (because of their proselytizing). Subsequently, the charge was changed to "action against national security" and "an attempt to create a network to overthrow the system." They are now free also from this accusation.

• iran
• religious
• freedom
• christian
• pastors
• freed