An Iranian Christian sentenced to 10 years in prison has been released after three months.
Mostafa Bordbar, 27, was released Nov. 3 from Tehran's Evin Prison
after overturning charges of participating in an "anti-security
organisation and "gathering with intent to commit crimes against Iranian
national security".
Bordbar was arrested in December last year during Christmas
celebrations with friends and sentenced in July. He was detained for a
total of 11 months.
The Oct. 30 appeals court hearing cleared him of all charges.
Iran has come under increasing pressure from the international
community to improve its human rights record, including its number of
political prisoners or other prisoners of conscience, such as the more
than 40 Christians behind bars.
In September, two Christians were released, a decision welcomed
internationally.
Mitra Rahmati and Maryam Jalili were nearing the end of
their sentences, and were released just ahead of new President Hassan
Rouhani's first address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Power, took to Twitter on
Sept. 18 to hail the release of prisoners from Iran's jails. "But it's
far from enough," she wrote. "Those missing or unjustly detained,
including Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and Bob Levinson, must be
returned home."
Hekmati is awaiting retrial in Iran on espionage charges. Levinson
was kidnapped in Iran in 2007 and is believed to remain in government
custody.
Meanwhile, Abedini, an Iranian-born US citizen and pastor
serving eight years in prison for his missionary work, has written to
Rouhani asking for justice and freedom.
At least 300 Christians have been arrested in the past three years in
Iran, with the most common charges being actions against public
security and propaganda against the regime.
Many of these Christians
were arrested while taking part in "house churches", small meetings of
Christians who gather to worship and pray together.
"In bringing about these charges against Christians, both the
government and the judiciary have made an error of law and fact because
Christian gatherings either at homes or churches are mainly formed for
Christians to worship together and to read and study the Bible, not to
change the regime, and they do not have a goal of any political
activity.
"So these are wrong judgments," human rights lawyer Attieh Fard told the United Nations Human Rights Council last month.
Fard urged Rouhani to make good on his promises to the U.N. in New
York by releasing the 42 Christians known to be in jail and the 45
awaiting trial.
Bordbar's victory in court comes one week after another four Iranian
Christians lost their own appeals, having been convicted of similar
charges.