Third Iranian Christian convert released from prison during Easter
Iranian Christian convert Fatemeh (Aylar) Bakhteri has been told she does not need to return to prison to complete her sentence, Article18, a persecution watchdog reported.
Earlier this month, Aylar was later told that her leave was to be extended. However, when she called the prison on Easter Day, Aylar was informed that she had in fact been pardoned, as one of 10,000 prisoners freed on the occasion of the Persian New Year, or Nowruz.
According to Article18, Aylar completed a little over half of her one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime” – a charge related to her membership of a house-church.
Like Bakhteri, the two other Christians who also had their prison sentences canceled were on an extended furlough as part of the government’s attempt to contain COVID-19 within the prisons. Seven Christians had received prison furloughs because of the virus, as part of tens of thousands who had also received furloughs, International Christian Concern wrote.
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