An Iranian Christian convert from Islam has been released from a 10-year prison sentence after a Tehran appeal court decided to reduce his sentence.
Mehdi Akbari, known as Yasser, was released on Sunday 29 September after his sentence was reduced to four years and five months. Yasser had already served a term of four years and nine months.
Yasser was sentenced in November 2020 along with three other Christians under the same charge of “acting against national security by forming a house church”.
Yasser Akbari was originally given a 10-year sentence in 2020 [Image credit: Article 18]
During his imprisonment Yasser, who was a single parent, learned of the death of his only son, 18-year-old Amir Ali. Yasser was informed too late to attend the funeral of Amir Ali, who died in December 2021 from underlying health issues in a care facility where he had lived during his father’s incarceration.
Yasser was met outside prison on the afternoon of 29 September by his family and friend and fellow Christian convert, Mehdi Rokhparvar, one of the three believers with whom he was initially sentenced. Mehdi was himself released from prison in February 2023.
Yasser’s release comes five days after that of pastor Anooshavan Avedian, another Iranian Christian who had been serving a 10-year sentence, who was acquitted by the same court of appeal (Branch 21) on 24 September.
During his time in prison, Yasser made five applications for a retrial. He was rejected four times, but his fifth application in April 2024 was accepted, a decision that led to the reduction in his term and subsequent release.
Give thanks for Yasser’s release. Pray that he will be recover from the ordeal experienced and know God’s guidance as he adjusts to life outside prison again. Pray that other Christians imprisoned in Iran on charges of threatening national security will also be set free.
