Saheb and Yousef were released in February 2023 as part of a general pardon approved by Supreme Leader Khamenei to commemorate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This is according to Danish European Mission's partner Middle East Concern.
Jailed for "acting against national security"
Saheb was arrested along with Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani and three other Christian converts in May 2016. In June 2017, four of those arrested, including Saheb and Yousef, were each sentenced to ten years in prison for "acting against national security," including "propagating house churches" and "promoting Zionist Christianity." Saheb and Yousef also received a sentence of two years of internal exile in a remote location. They began serving their sentences in Evin prison in July 2018.
In May 2020, the sentences were reduced to six years in prison, but the conditions of exile remained unchanged.
Saheb and Yousef were released in February 2023, as part of a general pardon approved by Supreme Leader Khamenei to commemorate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The whippings were handed out on the spot
In June, Saheb traveled from his hometown of Rasht to Evin Prison to ask for the property deeds he had posted as bail. He was informed that he still had to serve his sentence for internal exile and was given an additional punishment of 50 lashes for previously failing to return from prison leave on time. The lashes were administered on the spot on June 25.
It was the second time Saheb was whipped - in November 2020, he received 80 lashes for drinking communion wine.
Exonerated from exile
On August 8, the prison contacted Saheb to inform him that he could collect the property deeds posted as bail and today (August 10) it was confirmed that he will no longer be serving time in internal exile. It is expected that he will be able to collect the bail next week.
Saheb, his friends and family welcome the fact that he no longer has to go into exile and pray that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani's two-year period of internal exile will also be pardoned.
In 2022, donors ensured that 15,549 copies of the New Testament could be printed and smuggled into Iran. In addition, families of Christian prisoners of conscience receive support to buy food and pay for electricity and heating while the husband, who typically bears much of the burden of support, is in prison.
Support Iran: Support for families of Christian prisoners
