Iran: Christian released from prison

Good news from Iran: Mohabat News is reporting that Davoud Alijani, arrested in Ahvaz, Iran, during  a Christmas service in 2011, has been released from prison, 20 days prior to his sentence being complete.

Alijani was a part of the leadership of the Assemblies of God church in Ahvaz. When authorities raided a Christmas celebration on Decmeber 23, 2011, they initially arrested everyone present, including the children. Most of the believers were released within a few hours, but the pastor and his wife and two other ministers, including Alijani, were transferred to a detention center for further interrogation.

All four were subsequently sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty of "converting to Christianity, inviting Muslims to convert and acting against state security through evangelistic activities."

Two of them have been released previously, and only the pastor's wife, Shahnaz Jayzan, remains in prison as of the latest reports. However, Mohabat News says there are unconfirmed reports that she will also be released in the coming days.

The Assemblies of God Church in Ahvaz was a registered church with legal standing to hold church meetings, yet in recent months even churches that have legal standing in Iran have been raided by authorities and their leaders subjected to arrest and interrogation.

Praise the Lord for the release of our brother, Davoud! Please continue to pray for Shahnaz Jayzan and other believers in Iran.