Tehran frees Protestant pastor sentenced for crimes against the state

Behnam Irani served a six year sentence in prison. While in jail he suffered abuse and mistreatment. An American entrepreneur of Iranian origin sentenced to 10 years. According to the indictment he "collaborated" with Washington.

Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - After spending six years in jail, the Protestant pastor Behnam Irani has been freed and left his cell in the Ghezel Hesar prison, the largest in the country about 20 km north-west of Teheran. According to sources from his religious community, the man had served the full term of his sentence and so was released.

Behnam Irani, 43, is a former Protestant Christian from Karaj, some 20 km west of the Iranian capital. He is married to Kristina, a Christian Armenian, and they have two children: Rebecca, 11, and Adriel 5. His conversion took place in 1992 and, years later, he became a pastor and leader of his community.

According says the president of Truth Ministries, Irani was arrested a first time in December 2006 and the second time in April 2010; in both cases he was tried on charges of "crimes" against national security. With this charge, continues DeMars, the aim is to bar persons who perform religious services in a private homes, and those proselytize or "convert Muslims to Christ."

The second and final arrest (click here for video) dates back to April 14, 2010, while he was on his way to a church in a house of prayer. Officers of the Intelligence Ministry of the Islamic Republic detained him, while seizing Bibles, Christian materials, DVDs and other items. Released on bail, he was tried in January 2011 and convicted of "crimes against national security." The authorities decided to inflict all five years of the sentence (suspended) originally passed down in 2008 following his first arrest and trial.

From the beginning of his captivity Behnam Irani has faced several physical problems and illnesses. He also suffered beatings from the prison security guards. This resulted in a drastic loss of vision, slurred speech and reduced mobility. Ulcers and other diseases have undermined his physical health but not his resistance and "with God's help," concludes DeMars, he managed to survive.

In Iran the evangelical Protestant groups do not enjoy the recognition of the State. This recognition is given to the Catholic and Orthodox Christian communities, as well as several other minorities (other than Islam). They have freedom of worship and social activities, but they are prohibited from proselytizing. Protestant communities, from this point of view, practice their faith "illegally", sometimes with pronounced expressions of proselytism. Some friends of Pastor Benham had expressed fears that he could be convicted of apostasy and executed. But so far Iran has not passed any law on apostasy.

As the Protestant minister was being released a US businessman of Iranian origin was being imprisoned for 10 years with his 80 year old father for "collaboration" with Washington's "hostile" government. Siamak Namazi, international relations expert and consultant for various companies, will have to serve 10 years in prison. His father Baquer Namazi, former employee of UNICEF and former governor of Khuzestan province before the Islamic Revolution of 1979, has also been jailed.

Three other people have also been jailed for 10 years on similar charges: Nezar Zaka, an American of Lebanese origin and two others identified with the initials FHA and AA. According to Iranian state television Zaka has "numerous and deep ties" with the US intelligence and provided information vital to national security.